Rescued

A Total-E-Bound Publication

www.total-e-bound.com

Rescued ISBN # 978-0-85715-041-7 ©Copyright Bailey Bradford 2010 Cover Art by Lyn Taylor ©Copyright March 2010 Edited by Jess Bimberg Total-E-Bound Publishing This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing. Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution. The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork. Published in 2010 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom. Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has been rated Total-e-burning.

Southwestern Shifters

RESCUED Bailey Bradford

Dedication

To ABJ: your faith, strength, and support has been and always will be the greatest of gifts.

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Chapter One

Gabriel Staley finished feeding the last dog in the kennels, rubbing his fingers through the blue heeler’s coarse fur before standing and closing the gate. He’d needed to spend extra time playing with Jojo and working on obedience with him. Jojo had been abused at some point, as had most of the dogs at Gabriel’s animal shelter. It amazed him how cruel people could be, not only to dogs, but also to any animal. It was a real problem, particularly out here where he lived, in this little podunk town of Shasta. To be fair, he didn’t actually live in town; he lived on a few acres on the outskirts, in what he considered a decent house, nice but by no means fancy. Gabriel had inherited the place when his grandparents had passed away in a car wreck. He had already been living with them for several months, ever since he’d come out to his parents. Finding out that their only son was gay was more than his evangelical-loving parents had been willing to tolerate. There was no understanding or unconditional love in them, and Gabriel had accepted the demise of their relationship. His grandparents had welcomed him into their home, and their love and acceptance had been a soothing balm to his injured heart. Yes, his grandparents had loved and accepted him, and they’d also made sure he knew that the God his parents had used against him was not the God they believed in. After being disowned and labelled an abomination, Gabriel had been on shaky ground emotionally. His grandparents had taken him in and shown him what love was supposed to be, in the way they treated him, and the way they treated one another. Their love for each other had been stronger the day they died than when they first met, and though it hurt Gabriel horribly, he always felt it was best that they’d died together. He knew it would have been what they wanted. Arching his back to work out the muscles that were stiff from bending and lifting, Gabriel glanced at the semi-enclosed kennels he’d built himself, making sure all the gates on them were shut properly. He had converted an old barn for this purpose, dividing it into two rows of six chain link pens each. Not wanting the dogs to be confined for hours at a time, he‘d installed doggie doors in the back of each kennel and had put up chain link fencing that

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ran ten feet out behind each shelter, giving the dogs at least a little room. It wasn’t perfect at all, but it was a lot better than what waited for them out on their own. As Gabe had found out, courtesy of his friend Todd Benson, a deputy for the Sheriff’s department, the stray dogs in Shasta were usually killed in whatever cruel manner Sheriff Kaufman felt like using. No one other than Gabe, Todd, and the local veterinarian Dr. Adam Soames seemed to care; it was just the way things had always been done in Shasta. The three men worked together to try to change that, one rescue at a time. Gabriel headed towards his house, thinking how much he would enjoy a long, hot bath when his cell phone rang. Pulling the phone from his jeans pocket, he glanced down and sighed. He tapped the screen and brought the phone up to his ear. “Hello, Todd. What’s going on?” Gabe knew since the deputy was on shift, he must be calling about a rescue. “Gabe, I found a wolf, of all things. He’s in bad shape, though.” A wolf? What the hell? While wolves weren’t unheard of in New Mexico, thanks to the transfer of wolves to the Gila National Forest, Gabe hadn’t heard of any of them working their way down into northern Texas. “How bad is he hurt? Where do I need to meet you?” Gabe had more questions he wanted to ask, but those were the most important ones, so he would start there. “Well, I got a call in from Mrs. Schumaker saying she thought she saw a big dog out by her barn. She was worried it might be rabid or something. Anyways, I got out here and damned if there isn’t this huge black wolf out behind the barn. Except he’s just lying here, and he looks like he’s been starved or he’s sick, I don’t know. I called Adam and he’s on his way right now. Can you head right over?” Adam had become involved in the rescues when Gabriel had gone to the man for help with some of the strays he took in. After a few visits to the vet clinic with different dogs, Adam had finally asked Gabe what was going on. Once he’d learned what Todd and Gabe were doing and why, he volunteered to help as much as he could, giving free medicines and other needed services, including spaying and neutering. While Gabe didn’t really know him in a personal manner, he did know him very well in a professional manner and had a great deal of respect for the man.

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After he assured Todd he would be there as soon as possible, Gabe tossed some towels into his truck, along with a blanket and a digital camera. He considered bringing what medical supplies he had at the house, but since Adam was going to be there, Gabriel didn’t see the need for his own meagre supplies. Heading over to Mrs. Shumaker’s, Gabe wondered how the wolf had gotten into its present situation. He was a little nervous at the idea of approaching a wild animal, but Todd had been adamant the animal was too weak and possibly too close to death to be dangerous. Gabe hoped to hell the man was right, though he didn’t like thinking of it being in such a sorry state. With any luck, Adam would be there within minutes of Gabe’s arrival and he would know what to do. Todd’s cruiser was pulled up alongside Mrs. Shumaker’s house. Gabe could see the barn when he pulled up into the dirt drive, and Todd stood at the side of the building towards the back. He gestured for Gabe to drive his truck on around to where he was waiting. Putting the truck in park, Gabriel left the engine running just in case he needed to jump in and make a quick escape. He knew it was a kind of wimpy thing to do, but still. Gabe got out and walked over to Todd, looking past him to the dark, furry lump lying in a pathetic heap on the ground. He stared hard, concentrating until he finally saw the wolf’s side rise slightly with an intake of air. Still alive, that was good. The sound of an engine had Gabe glancing back to see that Adam had arrived. He turned back to the wolf, feeling an irresistible pull towards the animal. “Look at him, Gabe. The poor thing’s barely alive.” Todd’s voice was thick with sympathy. Gabe understood; his own stomach was clenched with anxiety for the wolf. Strange that, somewhere along the drive over here, he had gotten past being leery of the wild animal. He walked around Todd, heading straight for the wounded wolf. He vaguely heard Adam yell in the background to wait, to be careful. It didn’t matter, though. Gabe’s desire to reach the wolf superceded anything else. Eyes never leaving the wolf, he approached quietly, not wanting to startle the animal. He was barely aware of Adam a few feet behind him, as the pressing need to see to the wolf was too strong to ignore. The wolf opened his eyes, rolling them back to see who or what was approaching. A low growl rumbled from his chest, but for some reason Gabe didn’t feel it was a threat. A warning, perhaps, but not a threat-- not yet.

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The wolf struggled to roll onto his belly, turning his head to look at Gabe through whisky-coloured eyes. Gabe felt the air leave his body with a whoosh-sound. Those eyes seemed to reach all the way into his soul, sparking a feeling of recognition and something else, something that made him feel warm from the inside out. Never blinking, he knelt down beside the wolf’s shoulder and extended his hand towards the muzzle. “Gabe, don’t. He’s hurt and wild…” Adam’s whispered command fell on deaf ears as the wolf sniffed Gabe’s outstretched hand warily, then gently licked it. Gabe threaded his fingers through the dark fur along the wolf’s nape. Eyes narrowing, he leant forward to look at the scabby wound between the wolf’s shoulder blades. “Hey, Adam, come look at this. What the fuck?” Gabe leaned closer, peering at the jagged, days-old wound. The wolf watched him sombrely, panting rapidly now. A shuffling sound alerted Gabe to someone’s approach. He turned and spotted the hypodermic needle the vet was clutching and frowned. Another low growl came from the wolf, and Gabe immediately felt the wariness Adam’s presence was causing the animal. “Put the damned syringe away, Adam,” he ordered, eyes narrowing in agitation. “Gabe, that’s not reasonable. This is a wild, wounded animal. If he lashes out, anyone around could be seriously injured.” His grip on the syringe tightened. Gabe took a calming breath, trying to impart to the wolf a feeling of tranquillity and acceptance. He figured it was worth a shot, as he had always believed many animals could pick up on and reflect a person’s emotions. The wolf lay his head down by Gabe’s knees and the growling ceased. He let out a whimper, and closed those beautiful brown eyes. “He’s fine. Look at him; he’s too messed up do more than lay here. Just come look, I’ll stay up by his head while you get beside me on my right side, closer down to his hips. That way, if he does snap, it will be me that gets it.” Adam looked at the wolf closely. Sighing, he slipped the syringe into his shirt pocket before coming to squat on Gabe’s right side. Gabe glanced back and saw that Todd was keeping vigil towards the front of the barn, watching just in case Sheriff Dickwad showed up. Adam bent to examine the injury Gabe had found. “Shit.” Adam prodded the wound cautiously with his fingers. “Damn, it looks like someone creased him, probably to slow him down so they could catch him.”

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He muttered something under his breath that sounded like ‘dumb fuckers’ to Gabe, but he couldn’t be sure. It was too hard to hear with the roar of anger that erupted in his head at the vet’s words. Someone had deliberately shot this creature, stunning him, injuring him, so they could capture him? For what purpose? They could have easily killed the wolf—in fact, it was a miracle they hadn’t. Adam slid his hand around the wolf’s neck, cursing softly. If not for the look of fury in his eyes and the softly spoken curses, Gabe would have thought the man was unaffected by the situation. Every muscle in Adam’s body seemed relaxed and calm as he continued the examination. It seemed that whatever fear Adam had felt a few minutes ago was overridden by his feelings to the barbaric assault on the wolf. “Feel here, around its neck. It’s raw all the way around.” Gabe ran his hands around the wolf’s neck, feeling the wound left behind by some type of restraint. He was so angry by now he started to tremble, hands shaking as he brushed the dark hair. What had been done to this wolf? Who had done it? If he found out, it was a sure bet someone was going to get their ass kicked. Gabe met Adam’s gaze, seeing a reflection of his own anger there. “So they creased it, caught it, chained or tied it up. Looks like they had the wolf for a few days, you reckon?” Adam nodded. “Yeah, I’m thinking some dumb ass thought it would make a cool pet, and found out there was an error or two in their theory. Like the fact that you can’t domesticate a wild animal.” He continued his inspection, running his hands over the wolf’s torso, hips, and legs. The vet slid his hands down the wolf’s belly and Gabe felt the wolf’s body tense. Shaking his head at Gabe’s worried look, Adam brought his hands back up to the wolf’s side and nudged Gabe. “And this beautiful wolf is a male as I just found out. That’s why he tensed up, I hope, since I groped the poor guy.” Chuckling softly, Adam nodded at Gabe. “I want you to move around to the other side, up by its head. I need to look in his mouth.” While Gabe slid around to the other side, he murmured soothing words to the wolf, not wanting it to be spooked, and wondered why the hell it irritated him hearing that Adam’s hands had confirmed the wolf’s sex. Gabe shook off the ridiculous surge of anger and watched as Adam pulled on the skin, tugging it up to check for dehydration. Nodding to

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himself, the vet moved on to the wolf’s mouth, looking inside the muzzle then checking his eyes. Gabe wondered if Adam realised he was no longer worried about being bitten. Adam continued to inspect the animal for other injuries in his usual efficient manner. The only obvious ones he found were the crease and the neck wound, along with the dehydration and malnourishment. “Alright, I don’t feel any obvious breaks, but it wouldn’t hurt to do a series of x-rays to make sure, and I’d like to draw some blood and run a few tests on that end, too. We’d have to take him to the clinic for that, though.” Adam looked at him and Gabe shook his head. He knew it was more dangerous to take the wolf to the clinic unless it was absolutely necessary. While he didn’t like the idea of taking chances with the animal’s health, Gabe couldn’t risk taking the wolf to town unless there was a pressing need for it. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Adam. The clinic is in the town, has and there’s a law against wolves and wolf-hybrids in the town limits. You can’t tell me Sheriff Kaufman wouldn’t jump at a chance to throw that law at us and force euthanasia.” Gabe knew the bastard would get his rocks off by doing so. The wolf whimpered and scooted up against him, almost as though he understood the conversation. Well, maybe he did, or at least the emotions behind it. Adam sat considering, then nodded. “Yeah, you have a point. The problem is, if there is some internal damage that I’ve missed in this quick exam, he could very well die.” The wolf whimpered again, pushing closer into Gabe, almost knocking him on his ass. He flung an arm back to catch himself, not wanting to sprawl out and risk scaring or hurting his wolf. What the hell? Why was he thinking of this beautiful, wounded creature as his? Gabe pushed that thought out, because it made him just as much a monster as the bastard who had hurt the wolf in an attempt to own it, didn’t it? To want to keep the wolf for his own rather than nurse him back to health and return him to the wild. “Do you think that’s the case, doc?” He stilled, waiting for the answer. “I don’t think so, but I can’t swear on it, Gabe. You do have a point about Sheriff Kaufman, though, so I think we’d better get him to your place, put him on an IV to rehydrate him, clean and dress the wounds he has. I’ll leave you some sedatives in case you need them, too.” Adam ran his fingers over the wolf’s head, gently scratching behind the

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twitchy ears. “You’ll need to watch the wolf closely in case something is damaged inside of him. I don’t think there is, but…” Adam shrugged and stroked the wolf’s dark head. That surge of anger coursed through Gabe again as he watched the vet’s strong hand brush over the wolf’s head. What the hell was wrong with him? Christ, he was acting like a jealous lover! Todd jogged towards them, motioning for them to hurry up, looking worriedly from his friends to the road. “Y’all need to hurry it up. Kaufman radioed to see what the hold up was here, and he sounded suspicious. I wouldn’t put it past the fucker to come screaming down the drive any minute.” Todd nodded towards the wolf. “Think he’s going to be okay, Adam?” Gabe watched as Todd’s gaze roamed over the other man, taking advantage of the vet’s preoccupation with the wolf to admire his broad shoulders and the tight ass that seemed to have Todd tied in knots. Gabe suspected his friend of having a…thing…for the vet for about a year now. Not that the man seemed to notice. Todd jerked his gaze back around to the road as Adam and Gabe rose together, cradling the wolf between them. If Gabe just had some hint, some clue that Adam might be interested in Todd, he wouldn’t worry over the situation. Yes, Todd had always kept the closet door shut up tight, not wanting to deal with almost certain rejection from his family, and it was a sure bet Sheriff Kaufman would find some reason to fire him, too. But Gabe knew, and Todd knew he knew. Hell, Gabe wasn’t even sure that Adam was gay. He realised that he’d never seen Adam out with a woman, but he’d never seen him out with a man, either. He almost groaned at the hopelessness of his friend’s situation. Grunting, Gabe and Adam carried the wolf to Gabe’s truck. Todd ran over and opened the door to the crew cab, holding it while the other two men gingerly slid their patient onto the blanket in the back seat. Todd was acting spooked, and Gabe knew they needed to get the hell out of here. “Let’s go!” Todd’s voice was uncharacteristically sharp as he barked out the order. Gabe and Adam felt his urgency and sprinted around to their vehicles and jumped in. Gabe made a u-turn and laid on the gas with Adam right behind him. So far so good. Now, all they had to do was get back to Gabe’s place without a certain sheriff interfering.

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Chapter Two

Gabe walked back to the washroom to check the IV Adam had hooked the wolf up to, before leaving and handing Gabe a detailed list of instructions for the animal’s care. Looking at the sooty, dense black fur, he decided he would need a name for the wolf. All of the dogs he rescued had names, so it only seemed right rather than calling this newest rescue ‘the wolf’. Walking over to squat by the animal, he pondered his options. One brown eye cracked open and watched Gabe closely. He grinned, because for whatever reason, he felt some sort of camaraderie with the wolf. “Okay, buddy, we are going to have to come up with a name for you.” He saw the other eye open, then felt the rasp of a rough tongue against his hand. Bringing the slightly slobbered on hand up, he began stroking the wolf, enjoying the texture of the thick hair against his skin. “So soft. How can something so silky and smooth be a part of a big, tough wolf like yourself, hmm? Just a study in contrasts, aren’t you?” He slid his other hand into the wealth of dark silk, burrowing deep, fingers dancing across hard muscles. Gabe could feel a fine tremor under his fingertips and would have pulled away if the wolf hadn’t let out a rumbling sound of what he thought was pleasure. A smile tickled his lips as Gabe shifted and sat on his butt, leaning against the wall to get more comfortable. He let his eyes drift shut. “Don’t blame you, buddy. Everyone needs to be petted every now and then.” Another quiet rumble reached Gabe’s ears as he felt the wolf lift its head and rest it on his lap. The move didn’t surprise him, but the comfort he drew from it did. He’d only rescued the wolf a few hours ago, but the attachment he felt for the animal was strong enough that he already worried about how he would handle releasing the wolf once it healed. “Not gonna worry about that right now.” Gabe’s voice sounded husky with sleep, and he wondered if the shiver that swept over the wolf’s body was a response to it or something else entirely. “S’okay buddy, gotta think of a name for you…” He was vaguely aware that his

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fingers had stopped moving and were resting contentedly in the warmth of the wolf’s fur. Sleep slid over him at such a slow, seductive pace he couldn’t find it in himself to resist. An exquisite, pounding pain in his balls had Gabe groaning awake, finding one hand entangled in the black comfort of the wolf’s coat and the other stroking his cock through the denim of his jeans. Dreams of a dark-haired man with warm whisky brown eyes had quickly went from interesting to erotic, and the need to come was so strong that Gabe was afraid he would shoot before he could manage to straggle up and into the bathroom. He disentangled his hand from the fur, found the willpower to release his cock—though he did give it a couple of hard presses with the heel of his palm first—before pushing up off the floor. The wolf watched him with steady golden brown eyes, teasing Gabe’s memories of the dream man to the forefront of his thoughts. Muttering, and walking with a decidedly uncomfortable looking gait, Gabe checked the IV. Assured that all was as well as it could be for the wolf, he headed for the shower. There was no way this erection was going away on its own, at least not any time soon, and Gabe wanted to stroke himself off, much as his dream man had done, while the images from the dream were still fresh in his memory. Gabe had his cock in hand as he stepped in the shower, already lost in a fantasy of his dark-haired dream man. As the lukewarm water slicked over his skin, he closed his eyes and thumbed the leaking slit of his cock, fist clamping tightly on the bulbous head. Images zipped through his mind of another man’s hand gliding up and down his smooth shaft, only to be replaced by full, firm lips and a tongue that worked a magic Gabe had never experienced in reality. Pumping his arm, he reached back and slipped the fingers of his other hand into his crease, tapping the tight opening hidden there with his middle finger. Heat sparked and shot from his ass to his cock, hips jerking erratically when the tip of his finger slipped into his anus. Gabe’s back arched as pleasure whipped through his body, shooting out his cock in thick, creamy ropes as a hoarse yell burst from his throat. Gabe leaned heavily against the tiled wall, gasping from the intensity of his release. An achingly empty feeling swept over him as he watched the water wash the spunk away and down into the whirlpool of the drain, his temporary euphoria vanishing along with it. God, he didn’t understand what was wrong with him. Why did he suddenly feel as though part of him was missing? There was a need in him he couldn’t identify, the intensity of which

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seemed to be burning underneath his skin, seeping through muscles and tendons, burrowing in his bones. After several minutes of pondering the subject, Gabe gave up. Whatever it was, he would work through it, and began by making himself finish his shower.

Mika lay in the washroom watching Gabe’s retreat. As soon as Gabe had arrived on the property where Mika had lain injured, he had known. The instant feeling of recognition, the flooding of desire-- this man was to be his mate. The fact that he had established a mind link with Gabe through the dream—a very sexy dream—proved without a doubt they were mates. Such a thing wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. Finding a mate was more than he had ever hoped for. Mika had figured to always be alone, always an outcast. It was a particularly cruel thing to be forced out of one’s pack, to lose everything and everyone who had once been the fabric that swaddled his life securely. The terrible wound in Mika had threatened to grow and consume him, eating away at his self-worth until there was nothing left and no reason to go on, until death was a welcome respite from the pain inside. Now Mika had found Gabe, or vice versa, he supposed. His mate. There was no doubt in his mind that the whole shape shifter thing was going to throw Gabe for a loop, but Mika trusted in destiny. With the pheromones that would be raging between them soon—had, in fact, already begun—he knew Gabe would be his, sooner rather than later. Mika would seep into the man’s dreams, fill them with visions of wolf and man, helping, he hoped, to make it easier for Gabe to accept who and what he was. Ah, God, Gabe was aroused. Mika watched through barely slitted eyes as the man palmed his cock in his sleep. Soft noises slipped from Gabe’s lips as his hand moved more insistently, working and rubbing until the scent of pre-come reached Mika’s sensitive nose. Mika had to fight the desire to shift and go to his mate. It was too early yet, and he really did need the IV fluids dripping into him. The ordeal he had been through had kind of kicked his ass. He nudged Gabe with his muzzle, trying to rouse the sleeping figure before Mika lost his willpower and did something foolish, like shift and free Gabe’s straining cock from his jeans, take it deep into his throat… Mika nudged Gabe harder, then let his eyes slip shut.

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Once Gabe managed to rise and stumble from the room, Mika let out a sigh of relief. Relief was short lived when he heard Gabe moan and imagined the sound of slapping skin as his mate stroked himself to orgasm. The vision of his mate, brown hair hanging in damp clumps, green eyes closed stroking himself as his long, sinewy muscles tightened under bronzed skin when his orgasm hit—well, fuck. That image was almost too much; he felt himself begin to shift, torn between running to Gabe and possibly blowing it all, or having a bit of patience and having it all. It had never been harder for Mika to control his shifting than it was when he heard his mate yell out as he came. Mika locked every joint in his body in place and focused every bit of his strength that he had on staying in wolf form. He glanced at the IV bag. The fluids, as well as his ability to heal quickly as a shifter, would soon make any more treatment unnecessary. Already he was feeling better, and one part of him seemed to have completely recovered—his cock was hard as a steel rod. Once that bag was emptied, he was going to have to shift and formulate a plan, because there was no way he would be able to stay away from his mate if Gabe decided to stroke himself off again.

 ** * * Gabe considered dragging his sleeping bag and pillow into the washroom with the wolf so he could monitor the IV easily throughout the night. He felt almost compelled to stay with the wolf, and that in itself freaked him out just a bit. He had always had a strong affinity with dogs, but this was different, and not just because this was a wolf. It differed in some intense way inside Gabe, as though something in him resonated with something inside the wolf. And there was the rush of anger he’d felt over Adam touching the wolf. In the end, that was the very reason Gabe refrained from sleeping in the washroom. He didn’t understand what he was feeling, why he was feeling so…linked to the wolf. We always fear what we don’t understand, he mused, and in this case, that was the definitive truth. Bleary eyed, he’d stumbled down the hallway and into the washroom three times in the middle of the night. Each time, the wolf had watched him with those unblinking, whisky-

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coloured eyes. Gabe could feel them watching him, feel them on his skin like a caress. It was odd, and he didn’t know what to make of it. When Gabe awoke to the alarm for the fourth and final time, he groaned in sheer exhaustion. He felt as though he hadn’t gotten any sleep at all instead of the few hours he had managed. Even then, what sleep he had gotten had been filled with sensual dreams of a dark-haired man with warm brown eyes and the sweetest ass he’d ever seen. Visions of the man had blurred with that of the wolf, then back once again into the man. A name, Mika, had floated from the man’s lips in a sultry, heated voice. Mika, Mika… It wasn’t a name Gabe would have thought of, and he couldn’t help wondering where his mind had managed to find it. The whole experience was odd and Gabe figured a psychiatrist would have a field day with dream analysis, not that one would ever get the chance. Shrugging aside his own concerns about dreaming of sex—really, really mind-blowing sex—with a man who could turn into a wolf, he tossed off the blankets. Gabe’s morning erection was achingly hard, and he seriously thought of relieving it before checking on the wolf, but couldn’t justify seeking his own pleasure at the possible expense of another. Knowing it was silly, he threw on his boxers in an attempt to cover his morning wood. It just seemed weird to go take care of the wolf with a rock-hard cock waving around. Gabe opened the washroom door, smiling in anticipation of seeing the wolf. He froze in the doorway. The IV bag was empty, the drip line lay on the floor, the needle with a little bit of blood backed up in it, and unattached to the wolf. Because the wolf was gone. “What the hell?” Gabe shot into the room, searching frantically for any sign of what had happened to the wolf. He couldn’t have gotten out; the only door was the one Gabe had come in through, and that led into the house. So where the hell had the wolf gone? And why did Gabe feel like something vital had been ripped out of him? He tore through the house, looking for the wolf, or any trace of him, but found nothing. Gabe remembered his bedroom window was open; the cool evening breeze had been too relaxing to resist. The screen that had been over the window, however, was unlatched. There was no way the wolf had been able to free the latch. If the wolf had gone out through the window, the animal would have torn the screen off. And that would have certainly woken

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him up. Gabe raced outside, noting that the doors to the house were completely shut and unlocked—he rarely locked his doors. Still, it wasn’t like the wolf could open the doors. Thumbs were needed for things like that. Bare feet slapping on the ground as he ran, Gabe checked the garage, the kennels, everywhere he could think of. For nothing, he thought, feeling strangely bereft. There was no sign of the wolf anywhere. Gabe sat on the porch steps, angry at the tears pricking his eyes. He needed to stop acting like a sissy, damn it. Then icy fear washed over him. What if the sheriff had waltzed right in while he slept and stolen the wolf? It didn’t seem likely. The sheriff would have left the wolf in pieces for Gabe to discover. Still, it was the only scenario he could come up with. He pushed himself up, and went inside to call Todd. “’lo?” Todd answered. Gabe smacked his hand against his forehead. He’d forgotten the other man was working the second shift. Not that it would have stopped him from calling and waking Todd. “Todd, hey, I’m sorry to wake you, man. There’s a problem here, though.” Gabe closed his eyes, trying to still his panicked thoughts as Todd cleared his throat. “What’s up, Gabe?” Amazing how the man went from sleeping to alert in a matter of seconds. “I woke up this morning and the wolf was…is…gone.” Gabe explained the events of the morning, answering Todd’s questions as best he could. When he finished recounting the story, both men were silent for a while as they considered different options. “I’m guessing you’re wondering if Kaufman had anything to do with this?” “I don’t know what to think, Todd. It doesn’t seem cruel enough to be him, but, shit, can you figure out anything else?” Because Gabe couldn’t, not unless that wolf had stood upright and walked himself out. That image caused a shiver to run down his spine, visions of last night’s erotic dreams flashing through his head. What the hell? Pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, he forced aside thoughts of everything except the escaped wolf. “Well, did you see any tire tracks from the sheriff’s cruiser, any footprints that didn’t belong? And wouldn’t the sheriff have needed help if he’d swiped the critter? I mean, it took two strong men to load it into your truck.” Oh. Maybe if Gabe wasn’t so sleep deprived he would have thought of that himself.

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“There had to be some way the wolf got out, Gabe. He was pretty big; maybe he swiped at the door handle hard enough to get it to turn. Or maybe he turned it with his mouth; I’ve seen that on TV. Did you find any of his tracks outside?” Gabe wanted to roll his eyes at the suggestions, but he thought of the wolf’s eyes, of the intelligence he felt burning behind them. Who was he to say the wolf hadn’t figured out the doorknob? Which made him feel like shit, because that meant the wolf had left him, ran from him, really. Why did that hurt so much? Gabe rubbed at the ache in his chest. “Didn’t see any tracks, but I’m not the best tracker in the world. Not sure how much of an impression he would have left if he stayed on the grass. Probably none that I’d ever be able to find.” Damn it. “Tell you what, Gabe. I can swing by the vet clinic later today, before I’m on duty, and run in there and ask the doc about your vanishing wolf, see if he thinks he could have escaped. Maybe he will even have some ideas on how to find him. If nothing else, maybe the wolf headed back to his native territory. It’s not like he had a good reception here.” The idea of never seeing the wolf again made his stomach churn. Gabe tried to chalk it up to concern over the wolf’s welfare, which wasn’t a complete untruth. It wasn’t safe out here, with Sheriff Kaufman and his twisted version of animal control, and even if Gabe could find a way for the wolf to stay here, it would never be safe. Not unless there were some changes in the town of Shasta, which wasn’t happening any time soon, so the wolf would need to be returned to his territory. Gabe realised that the idea of finding the wolf, only to release him in a safer place and never to see the magnificent creature again didn’t make him feel any better. It was wrong, he knew it was so wrong, to want to keep the wolf for himself. He just couldn’t shake the feeling that the wolf was his, which was bullshit. The wolf was a beautiful, wild creature and didn’t belong to anyone. Maybe I kind of belong to him, Gabe mused. And that was just a weird thought. Gabe finished up the phone call and headed to his room, in a hurry to get dressed. The other rescued dogs still needed to be taken care of, and he had spent too much time on the fruitless search for the escaped wolf. Lost in thoughts of chores and wolf, he turned into his room, morning erection deflated and forgotten as he tried to push aside his feelings of loss

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and concentrate on what needed to be done. He jerked open a dresser drawer, digging through piles of hastily folded clothes. “Where are my freaking sweats? They were here, I thought…” Muttering in frustration, annoyed with himself and the wolf, he was startled by a loud pounding on the front door— enough so that he slammed his fingertips in the drawer as he shoved it closed. “Ouch! Shit!” Who the hell would be banging on his front door this early? The only person he could think of was Sheriff Kaufman, and that drew a groan out along with a few succinct curse words. It would figure; this morning had already been for shit. A visit from Kaufman would fit right in. Gabe flung the front door open, ready to tear into the sheriff and vent off some of his frustration. Instead, a startled breath hissed out of his lungs. Standing on the porch—and weren’t those his missing sweats? And his Alice In Chains concert shirt?—was the man he had dreamt of last night. He was every bit as gorgeous in person, with shoulder-length black hair that emphasised the chiselled planes of his face, large brown eyes, straight patrician nose, and lips that were full and sensuous. Gabe felt his prick harden painfully, pushing against the elastic waistband of his boxers, seeking escape, and he saw the sudden flare of the dream man’s nostrils, as though he could scent that Gabe was turned on. Gabe jerked his gaze away from the other man’s face, lowered it—and sucked in a startled gasp. There, around his neck, right above the collar of the T-shirt… “What the fuck?” Gabe muttered in a strangled voice. His brain raced to process the almost-healed wounds on the man’s neck, the feeling of familiarity rushing through him. Black dots danced before his eyes. Jesus, he must be fucking crazy. “Who are you?” he managed to get out, feeling light and fuzzy, his eyes never leaving those familiar, faded wounds. Can’t be, can’t be… “I’m Mika,” the man answered, his deep rumbling voice filling Gabe’s mind with a strange buzzing as he fought the darkness washing over him.

Shit! Mika dove through the doorway, trying to prevent Gabe from cracking his head open, barely managing to catch him before he hit the floor. That had not gone exactly as he had planned, obviously. Not that he had some romantic idea that his mate would take one look at him, fling his arms around his neck and profess undying love so they could fuck like bunnies. Nope, that was just a fantasy, but he really hadn’t expected this.

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Mika had debated his options, only to find he didn’t have any. With no clothes, money, or transportation—everything he had owned was still on his former pack’s land—Mika simply hadn’t known what else to do. He’d slipped into Gabe’s room while the man slept and borrowed some clothes. He’d wanted so badly to touch Gabe as he lay sleeping. The man was beautiful, all long, lean lines of muscle and taut skin. Mika hadn’t let himself look for too long, afraid he would give in to the need to touch the sleeping man. Stupidly, as now seemed apparent, Mika had decided a direct approach was really the only choice he had. “Maybe I should have tried harder to think of another way.” Surely he could have figured something else out…except, he didn’t want to leave this place, this man, long enough to formulate an alternate plan. And it was too late now; he’d already scared the shit out of Gabe. Mika carried him into the bedroom and sat on the bed, his back up against the headboard, cradling Gabe in his lap. He felt so right, pulled up tight against Mika’s chest. Mika watched as Gabe’s eyes opened, felt him stiffen and start to push away. Mika removed his arms from around Gabe, feeling a pinch in his heart when his mate moved quickly off of him to rise shakily at the side of the bed. Their gazes met, and Mika had to struggle not to reach for Gabe and soothe the fear he saw reflected in those wary green eyes. Mika didn’t know what to do to assuage the man’s nervousness. Trying to put himself in Gabe’s shoes was proving difficult with the need that was pounding throughout Mika’s body. He had to find a way to make his mate understand, without scaring him out of his wits. His hands were trembling with fear of messing this entire situation up. Meeting Gabe’s narrowed gaze, Mika took a steadying breath and waited. “Let me see your back,” Gabe ordered, arms crossed as he waited for his directive to be followed. Mika stared at Gabe, willing him to accept the reality of what he was seeing. He leant forward from the headboard, pulled off his borrowed shirt then bent lower until his belly almost brushed his thighs, all the while watching his mate. He saw the man’s mouth drop open into a very pretty ‘o’, heard the startled ‘oh fuck’ as Gabe brought up a hand to gently trace the path where a bullet had ploughed through skin and tissue. The heat from that soft caress had a moan slipping from Mika before he could stop it. Rather than jerk away as Mika

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had feared, Gabe let his palm rest at the top of the wound, stroking the puckered skin a few times with his fingertips. Logic fought with desire. His cock was so hard he actually hurt. He could feel the moisture leaking from the tip, the heat from the fluid almost burning his skin where it smeared as his cock jerked with each heartbeat. Forcing away the thoughts of his body’s reaction to his mate, Mika held perfectly still, waiting to see what Gabe’s next move would be. When he could take the silence no more, Mika reached back to grab Gabe’s arm, holding him by the wrist before sitting against the headboard once again. “Please, Gabriel. Sit with me. I promise to do my best to explain.” Gabe pulled his wrist free and hesitated for a moment, long enough that Mika feared he would have to beg. Closing his eyes against the pain of his aching cock, Mika knew he would beg, at this point. He’d do whatever it took to keep his mate near him. Hell, to keep him, period. This pull between mates was much stronger than Mika had ever thought it would be—and much more frightening for that intensity. Opening his eyes, Mika realised that Gabe was staring at the straining shaft that was tenting the sweats and causing Mika no small amount of discomfort. He groaned as his cock responded to that green-eyed inspection. “Gabe, you can’t look at me like that and expect me to concentrate on talking,” Mika muttered. Gabe jerked his gaze back up to Mika’s and turned bright red. God, his mate was gorgeous, sitting there with his lips slightly parted, embarrassment crawling all over him. Gabe’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down twice before the man was able to speak. “It’s just…ah, that cock is…distracting,” Gabe mumbled, darting another quick glance at the body part under discussion. Mika fought back a grin. So his cock was distracting? Well, it was sure nice to know he wasn’t the only one bowled over with lust. It gave him hope that Gabriel was every bit as drawn to him as Mika was to his mate. He would try to explain as much as he dared, but if all else failed, maybe the desire swirling between himself and Gabe would give Mika a way to bind the man to him. Words before action, though, at least in this case. “Gabriel—” “What are you?” Those sharp eyes bored into Mika, pinning him in place and stopping his breath. Despite knowing he must answer that question, Mika hesitated. It would be better

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to tell Gabe as much as possible, certainly, but how much was that? How much could he tell his mate before Gabe freaked out again or before he demanded that Mika leave? After all, if Mika’s own pack didn’t want him, why would his mate? Fear coiled and burned in his stomach as he struggled to find an answer that would not push Gabe away. “Are you certain you want to know the answer?” Because Mika well knew that once spoken, words could not be taken back. He watched as his mate trembled, smelled the fear and confusion skittering beneath his skin. Mika couldn’t stop the bit of pride he felt when Gabe pulled his shoulders back, sat straight and looked as though he were prepared for any answer that might come. “I need to know the answer.” Gabe’s gaze raked over him, hesitating only briefly at the bulge at his groin, then swept back up to Mika’s face. “You were there, somehow, in my dreams…” He reached for Mika’s cheek, stopping at the last second and letting his hand drop back to the bed. How could Mika feel the loss of a touch that hadn’t happened? He reached for Gabe’s, his fingertips gliding over the warm, firm skin before clasping it in his own. This time, his mate didn’t pull away, and Mika couldn’t tamp down the bit of hope that shimmered inside him. “You have some idea of what I am, yes?” Mika gently caressed Gabe’s wrist with his thumb, unable to resist the small comfort. Even that chaste touch heated Mika’s blood. He shifted slightly, trying to relieve the pressure in his balls. Mika’s eyelids slid down as he watched Gabe. He scented his arousal, aware of the discomfort causing the man to squirm where he sat. His mate’s cock was every bit as hard and wet as Mika’s; he could see the damp spot spreading across Gabe’s tented boxers. God, the man was making it difficult for Mika to think coherently. “Perhaps I should take care of that first,” Mika offered, sliding his hand from Gabe’s arm onto his thigh, moving up slowly, barely grazing his cock. Gabe groaned before catching the wandering hand with his own, first pressing his hips up into the touch, then pulling Mika’s hand away. “No, we can’t, I can’t… I need to know what’s going on here, Mika. Please, help me to understand. I mean, there was a wolf, and then these dreams, and now you’re here and this is all fucking unbelievable! Help me understand this.”

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Gabe’s warm gaze held a silent plea that Mika couldn’t ignore. He nodded slowly, then turned his hand under Gabe’s, intertwining their fingers. Mika was torn with trying to decide how much to tell his mate. If the man were a shifter, this would all be a lot easier. Mika almost laughed at that; he should know better than to expect anything to be easy anymore. He wouldn’t lie to Gabriel, but Mika would prefer to ease into the explanations, give himself some time to win his mate. Regardless of the fact they were mates, and therefore drawn to each other, Mika realised he wanted Gabe to like him, as an individual. He was torn between revealing everything and revealing only what was necessary, because now that Gabe was here, Mika didn’t think he would be able to survive being alone again—and that was too big of a burden to place on the other man’s shoulders. “Alright, I can do that, Gabriel,” he hoped. “Okay.” Mika tried to centre himself so he didn’t screw up what was probably the most important conversation of his life. That position had been held prior by the meeting with the alpha of his former pack, but this talk would have an even more substantial impact on his life. Mika brought their hands up to rest on his chest, over his heart, hoping the touch would give him the courage he needed to speak. “I know you’ll have questions, but if you could let me speak first, before I lose my nerve, then I’ll try to answer them.” Mika kept his gaze locked on Gabe’s. Nodding impatiently, Gabe arched his brow. Alrighty, then, Mika mused, wouldn’t want to keep this man waiting. “Ah, so, I’m a…shape-shifter, a wolf.” He watched as Gabe tensed, absorbing the words. When it seemed there would be no other reaction from Gabe, Mika felt a bit of encouragement to continue. At least Gabe hadn’t jumped up and declared Mika crazy. “That has to be pretty out there, I guess. I mean, hard to believe. This might surprise you but we aren’t exactly uncommon, just a well-kept secret, for obvious reasons. Okay so far?” Oh, Mika thought, there’s the look that tells me how crazy my mate thinks I am. Gabe blinked and stared at him incredulously. “I don’t know about okay, Mika. I mean, seriously? Okay?” Shaking his head, Mika tried to calm the frantic beating of his heart. Shit, he was screwing this up and he just couldn’t afford to do that! “Gabe, I’m sorry. I don’t know what the right words are to tell this, what to say other than the truth. I tried to…to help you accept this with the dreams, but I—”

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Gabe jerked his hand free, scooting off the bed to stand and glare down at Mika. “So you can read my mind, too? Mess around in my head?” Mika jumped off the bed, wondering how he had managed to fuck this whole thing up so badly already. Maybe he’d have been better off if he’d put his mouth to a different use. Or maybe, he should just have stayed gone when he had slipped out the window this morning, and spared Gabe the confusion and himself the pain he was already feeling from his mate’s rejection. Mika looked out the window, trying to decide what to do, what would be best for the man watching him. “Mika.” Gabe’s voice was a soft whisper, reaching Mika just before fingers tentatively touched his cheek, in no way preparing him for the words that followed. “Mika, you look so lost.” Mika’s heart clutched and he reached for the window, the need to flee spurring him to action. He felt his body begin to shift, thick, coarse hair springing out on his extended arm as a startled gasp ripped from Gabe’s lips. “No!” Mika ignored the command, feeling the wolf pushing forward, determined to escape before he was hurt again. Before the shift could truly take hold, he was knocked backwards, tackled onto the bed by a hundred and eighty pounds of hard male. His breath rushed out when his back hit the mattress and a leanly muscled shoulder drove into his diaphragm. “No.” Glittering eyes stared down as strong hands clasped his wrists. His wolf backed off, coiling deep inside him at his mate’s order. Fine tremors worked through his muscles, fear, desire, and hurt all taking their turns twisting under his skin. “Let me go, Gabriel. Just let me leave.” It came out as more of a plea than Mika would have liked, but there was little he could do about it. “It will be better after all if I just go.” Gabe’s hands clamped tighter, almost to the point of pain, but Mika didn’t fight. He wouldn’t risk hurting this man. “You can’t, can you? Read my mind?” Mika closed his eyes, unable to leave himself open to that intense probe. His voice hitched in his throat; there were too many words, yet not enough that could be easily accepted by a human mind. How could he possibly explain the mind link to Gabe, or what it

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meant to find one’s mate? The man would think Mika was insane. He shook his head, answering the only way he could for now. “Mika.” His name floated on a sigh, then soft full lips brushed against his, settling when his lips parted in surprise. Gabe’s tongue teased into his mouth, licking and stroking until Mika moaned and gave in, twining his tongue with his mate’s. “Like that, like that,” Gabe encouraged into Mika’s mouth, thrusting his hard prick against Mika’s belly then rising up on his knees to straddle Mika’s thighs, bringing their cocks together. “Oh God, what is it about you that makes me want you so damn bad? I’m not like this…” Mika pulled his hands free, needing to touch more than he needed his next breath. He trailed his hands down Gabe’s back, nipping at his mate’s lips as he let his fingers and palms gently knead Gabe’s erection. The scent of arousal and sweat, man and mate, hit Mika so hard he would have doubled over had he not been pinned down. He clutched at the waist of Gabe’s boxers, pushing and tugging, tangling his fingers with his mate’s when the man reached down to help. Nimble fingers plucked at his borrowed sweats, gliding over his prick then reaching for the waistband. Mika tilted his hips what little he could, then his sweats were being pushed down. Mika yelled and clutched at his mate’s back as Gabe reached between them, his hand closing around their pricks. He was helpless to stop his hips from thrusting when Gabe tightened his hand, shoving his hips down as Mika thrust up. It was too much, his mate’s grasp and cock, the burning friction and bolts of pleasure surging from his balls to his head and toes, then right back to his prick. Mika felt as though his soul were being ripped from him as he groaned. Gabe swallowed the sounds with an almost violent kiss. Every muscle tightened and flexed as Mika came, spurting jets of seed on Gabe’s hand and cock, on their stomachs. Gabe jerked his hips hard and froze, moaning so deeply into Mika’s mouth that he felt the vibrations from it inside his own body. The scent of their semen mixed together hit Mika, filling him with need all over again so that his cock refused to soften. He caressed Gabe’s back as his mate collapsed on top of him, once again stealing his breath. “Sorry,” Gabe muttered against Mika’s neck, but he didn’t move. Instead, he wound his hands into Mika’s hair, burrowing his fingers deep into its black depths. When their

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breathing finally calmed and the puddle of come between them became too uncomfortable to ignore any longer, Gabe released Mika’s hair and pushed himself up, stopping only when he was once again straddling Mika’s thighs. Mika watched him closely, waiting for what, he didn’t know. The smile that etched across his mate’s face startled him, though he couldn’t say why and wouldn’t let himself wonder what it meant. “I don’t know what is going on, why I feel so compelled to jump you that it’s hard to resist, but you…you look so serious, Mika. Even after…you still look like you might run. But you can’t. You can’t.” Gabe’s smile never faltered, but his voice was warm steel as he spoke. There was no give, no question, just a truth that Mika felt binding him to his mate. No, he couldn’t run, couldn’t leave this man just because it was easier than taking a risk, easier than fighting for what he wanted. “Okay, Gabriel.” The concession was gruff and bordered on garbled, but Mika knew Gabe understood. His eyes lit up and his smile grew. “Your word, Mika.” “You have it. I won’t run.” Though his mate might wish he had later, once the explanations began. Tilting his head to the side, Gabe narrowed his eyes at Mika. “You’d better mean that. I mean, here I am, trying to wrap my mind around the fact that you’re my—a wolf, and all the while my hormones have spun out of control like they’re on some major crack. I swear, I can’t keep enough blood up north to get my brain to function.” Mika certainly understood that problem. It was one of the reason mates stayed together until death; the sexual need for one another was strong and focused. “What I told you, it’s the truth.” Gabe chewed on his bottom lip for a minute before finally tipping his head down in acknowledgement. “I think maybe it is, and that makes me feel a little bit better, actually. I was having some uncomfortably weird feelings for the wolf. Uh, yeah, so…” Pink tinged Gabe’s cheeks as he glanced away. “And I feel that weird-ass connection with you like… in this form, too, is what I mean, I guess.” Mika’s heartbeat leapt with those words, and he couldn’t stop himself from hoping that maybe, with time, Gabe would accept him. “I felt it, in both forms. It’s very, ah, strong.”

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Mika wanted to roll his eyes at the understatement. This thing between them was already weaving itself through his soul. Gabe nodded, smiling still as he tugged Mika off the bed. “Alright, then. Let’s get ourselves clean—there are rescued dogs waiting for breakfast out there. Then we will talk. I have a shitload of questions, and you can explain to me what the hell just happened between us.” Mika let himself be led into the bathroom, hoping his mate would still be smiling once the talking was done.

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Chapter Three

Gabe gave himself an internal pep talk while he and Mika fed and exercised the dogs. God knew he wasn’t a prude by any means, but the unrelenting need he felt for Mika had Gabe rattled. And the way he’d tackled the man and jumped his bones? Gabe didn’t know what had come over him, except Mika had looked like he was going to leave. Something told Gabe that if he let Mika go at that moment, Mika would never return. That had filled him with a desperation that had kicked his instincts into overdrive. When Mika had started to…change, Gabe had felt a combination of panic and possessiveness that short circuited every good intention and fear he’d had. So he’d reacted by jumping the man. Maybe not a smart thing to do, but it had certainly been satisfying in the end. Except, now that need to feel the other man inside him was rising up and battering at Gabe’s willpower. And that scared the crap out of Gabe. Trying his best not to let his mind get snarled up in Mika’s proclamation that he was a werewolf, which was something he couldn’t process at this moment, Gabe tossed a ball for Jojo, grinning as the heeler bolted after the bouncing yellow sphere. His grin slipped a little when Jojo brought the ball back—to Mika, who was sitting and waiting politely until he gave in and took the drool coated toy. Mika’s cheeks turned ruddy and he offered an apologetic shrug when he caught Gabe watching him. “Sorry, it’s an…alpha thing.” Mika looked away nervously, and Gabe felt a mixture of guilt and irritation. An alpha thing? What, exactly, did that make him if Mika was the alpha? The bitch? “I don’t think so,” Gabe muttered. Apparently, Jojo had no idea just who had flung whom on the bed and attacked. Laughter burst from his lips as Gabe realised how ridiculous his train of thought was, garnering him a startled look from Mika. Of course Jojo would see Mika as the alpha—the man said he was part wolf, some way or another. And they still had much to discuss. “You two about done?” Gabe’s arched brow made it clear that it was a suggestion rather than a question.

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“Sure.” Mika knelt and lavished Jojo with praise and caresses. Gabe watched those big hands slide over Jojo’s short hair and felt a twinge of envy. He knew how good those hands felt. Not as well as he’d like to, but enough to torment him with the knowledge. “So…breakfast, I guess? Any preference? What do…uh…” God, Gabe wanted to melt into the ground. He felt like a simpering virgin, which he definitely wasn’t. It was just that his brain was still spinning with the knowledge that Mika was his wolf. It was hard not to believe it when Gabe felt the same strong pull towards the man as he had the wolf, and there’d been that brief moment when Mika had started sprout all that hair. Or was it fur? “Shape shifters,” Mika offered up, lips twitching as Gabe shot him a glare. “Right. Shape shifters. So, what do you eat? I mean, regular stuff or is there some special diet or something?” Gabe felt like an idiot and knew that he was probably glowing a bright red if the warmth of his cheeks was any indication. Well, too bad if he was; it wasn’t as if he had any answers to his many questions—yet. Mika seemed to consider the question seriously as they made their way into the kitchen. “Pretty much whatever you eat, Gabriel—“ Gabe stopped and faced Mika. “Gabe. Just Gabe is fine. I did just have my hand wrapped around your cock and your come on my fingers…and stomach…and…” The heat that flared up in Mika’s eyes had Gabe’s brain shorting out and his dick filling up. He leaned into Mika, giving in to the need to touch because he couldn’t seem to help himself. Gabe rested his palms on the firm planes of the other man’s chest as confusion about this strange need swirled in him. Fear of these new feelings shot through Gabe but it wasn’t enough to make him back away, not when every fibre of his being seemed to scream for Mika’s touch. His stomach growled loudly just as their lips met. Mika stepped back, breath heavy as he held Gabe’s hands to his chest. “Breakfast, Gabri—Gabe. And maybe some kibble, if you have extra.” The teasing warmth in Mika’s voice sent a series of flutters through Gabe’s belly, though he narrowed his eyes at the other man. “I should give you kibble, just for that. And for backing away from that kiss. That was just cruel, Mika.” He smiled, taking the sting from his words. He had no desire to hurt Mika. From what he had seen earlier, someone had already done just that, and done it too well. The man had that lost, hurt look, much like the one Gabe had had when his parents kicked him to

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the kerb. If it hadn’t been for his grandparents… He would never leave someone else feeling like that, and especially not this particular man. “Let’s see what we have.” Gabe turned, leading Mika by the hand over to the refrigerator. He opened the door and bent at the waist, making sure to bump Mika’s groin with his ass. The sharp hiss of indrawn breath had Gabe grinning like a lunatic as he pulled out the bacon and eggs. He stood up only to bobble the food in his hands when strong arms wrapped around him, locking across his belly. Moist lips caressed the side of his neck then suckled hard, an edge of teeth bringing up a mark under the assault. Gabe tried to swivel around and set the bacon and eggs on the counter but Mika’s arms kept him firmly in place, as did the quick bite to his neck. “Gonna drop the…breakfast.” Mika tugged Gabe over to the table, took the bacon and eggs from him and set them down. Gabe’s head spun and the blood was pumped in his veins so forcefully that he felt dizzy. The heated look in Mika’s eyes sent need and panic pummelling through Gabe. “No.” Gabe shook his head for emphasis and felt like a shit when Mika froze, a quick pained look flitting across his starkly handsome features. “I’m sorry, I am. I shouldn’t have teased you.” Gabe glanced away and ran his trembling fingers through his hair. He took a steadying breath before facing Mika again. “I don’t know why I did it. I mean, I want you— who wouldn’t? But this, what’s going on between us, it scares the shit out of me. Why is there this clawing need in my gut to…to…” Now he was definitely blushing; Gabe could feel it to the tips of his ears. “It’s like all I want to do is taste you, touch you, feel you.” Gabe had a humiliating flash of insight. “Shit. I feel like I’m in heat around you!” Oh no fucking way! The panic overpowered the desire that had been pulsing inside Gabe and he scooted backwards until his tailbone bumped the counter. He darted a glance at Mika and felt every confusing emotion battering at him stop. There was such a hopeless look on Mika’s face that it pushed down everything but the need for Gabe to help the man. Even Mika’s slumped shoulders as well as his clenched fists called to Gabe. The urge to comfort was uncontrollable. “Oh hey, no, don’t.” Gabe pushed away from the countertop and hurried to Mika, covering the man’s white-knuckled fists with his hands. “I don’t mean anything bad. I’m just confused.” Gabe couldn’t resist leaning forward and brushing his lips over Mika’s. Hell, at

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this point he’d drop down and spread himself wide open if it would rid Mika of his cloak of dejection. Not smart, jackass. It’s that sort of need that freaked you out in the first place! Well, that and the whole wolf thing. Gabe pressed another kiss to Mika’s lips then rested his forehead against the other man’s. “It’ll be okay, eventually. I’m sorry I freaked out on you.” He watched the pain flicker away from Mika’s eyes, felt the tension leaving the man’s body as his fists unclenched. Mika turned his hands and linked his fingers through Gabe’s, squeezing lightly. “I know it’s a lot to take in.” Mika’s lips quirked up in a heart-stoppingly sexy smile as he stared at Gabe. “But it isn’t just you; I feel the same way, like nothing matters other than burying my cock as deep inside you as I can and—” “Oh shit, you can’t say things like that when I’m this damned horny!” Gabe couldn’t stop the shiver that went through him at the image Mika’s words supplied. If they both felt that unrelenting pull towards each other, then why shouldn’t they act on it? Gabe’s prick was offering up a good argument, but he wasn’t quite ready to hand over control to that particular part of his anatomy. Instead, Gabe took a half step back from Mika in an attempt to forestall caving in to the temptation the man presented. “No matter how bad my body wants you—and believe me, it wants you very bad—I can’t just shut off my brain. I don’t understand this, but you said you feel it too. Yet,” Gabe studied Mika for a few seconds, “this doesn’t surprise you, I don’t think.” Mika released one of Gabe’s hands and walked them back to the counter where the makings for breakfast sat. “You’re wrong, partially. Finding you, that surprised the living hell out of me. Feeling this way, it’s something I’ve heard of among shifters before.” Gabe cupped Mika’s chin and forced him to meet his gaze. “I think I found you, buddy. As for the other, you can explain it after we eat.” And please don’t tell me that I’m in heat. I don’t think I can handle hearing that. “We want each other, obviously.” Mika’s lips twitched with that grin again and Gabe felt a rush of heat in his stomach. This man was lethal to his resolve. Gabe was about ready to forget talking and just tear the clothes off of Mika despite his reservations. Something must have showed in his eyes, because Mika’s expression turned feral for a brief moment before he shook his head and smiled.

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“I don’t think so, Gabe.” He reached down and stroked Gabe through his jeans, drawing a near-breathless moan from him. He tried to grab Mika’s hand and hold it against his aching prick, but Mika shook his head and pulled his hand away from Gabe’s groin. “You would regret it, once we were done, and I don’t want that.” Groaning, Gabe dropped his chin down to his chest. Mika was right, and Gabe knew that, intellectually. His body, on the other hand, didn’t want to listen to reason. Mika released Gabe’s other hand and walked over to the table and faced Gabe. “Do you need help with breakfast?” He paused with one hand on the back of a chair, waiting for what Gabe assumed was permission to sit. Gabe let out a frustrated sigh, wishing his cock would quit pressing so uncomfortably against his zipper. “No, go ahead and have a seat. It won’t take long for me to fix this stuff.” He forced himself to turn away as the man seated himself at the table. He looks all too right there, Gabe thought, like he belongs. I want to keep him—and he wants to stay. Smiling, Gabe grabbed a skillet and set it on the stove. At least now his head and body were in total agreement; they both wanted to keep Mika. As Gabe placed the bacon in the skillet, he couldn’t hold back a grin. Looked like he was going to have to broaden his horizons and open his mind, because that’s what it would take to have the man sitting at his table. Twice now, Gabe had seen that hurt, broken look sweep over Mika, for whatever reason. Whether he ever came to understand what was happening between them or not, Gabe was going to do his best to make sure Mika never wore that look again.

**** Mika sat on the couch, fingers plucking at the nubby fabric as Gabe looked at him from across the coffee table. The man looked entirely too at ease sitting in the big leather recliner; the patient expression on his face only served to make Mika more nervous. He wanted Gabe, wanted to wake up every morning and see the blissful, sated look Gabe’d had in the bedroom after they’d both come. Or maybe he wanted to wake and see the hungry, wanton look Gabe had worn earlier in the kitchen. It was a tough call for certain, so Mika would have to accept that he wanted it all.

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“Quit stalling, Mika. Just…explain the dreams, at least. Please.” The soft request seared across Mika’s nerves. How to explain the dreams without having to explain everything was a challenge. Glancing up at Gabe, Mika knew it was a worthwhile one. He took a fortifying breath, trying to make himself focus. “The dreams were…are possible because of this,” Mika gestured between them, “this pull, or need, whatever you want to call it. I don’t have words strong enough to describe it, Gabe.” Gabe sat quietly as Mika went back to toying with the couch, unable to sit still when his nerves were thrumming. “It’s something, the dreams, and even being able to, to speak to each other without words.” He darted a quick glance at Gabe, trying to gauge whether his mate believed him or not. “So this happens with everyone you have sex with, then?” Mika couldn’t read Gabe, wasn’t sure what answer the man wanted, but all Mika could offer was the truth. Part of it, anyways. “No, not everyone. Not anyone, ever, except you, and we haven’t even had sex, not really.” That was one thing he needed Gabe to understand and accept. “It’s like that for us. Sometimes, a very rare sometimes, a shifter will find someone who…who they can link minds with.” Gabe studied him quietly, head tipped to one side. Mika had the distinct impression Gabe was reading him, someway or another, looking into his soul. It was fanciful and foolish, but he couldn’t shake the feeling nonetheless. “So why us, Mika? What don’t you want to tell me?” Those piercing eyes were filled with patience and a calm Mika could feel radiating out to him. His fingers stilled their nervous movements as he let himself sink into his mate’s gaze. “It’s us because we’re right together, we fit. It’s—” “It’s part of the whole shape shifter thing, then, right?” Gabe glanced away, tracing random patterns on the arm of the chair. With his gaze averted, Mika felt the doubt and fear clawing back up to the surface. “Yes, it is complicated.” And wasn’t that a huge understatement? But it was also the truth, and Mika battled with himself just to admit that much. He waited while Gabe studied his fingers gliding against the leather upholstery. Minutes went by as Gabe stroked that leather with an innocent seductiveness that had Mika aching to feel the man’s hand on his

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straining cock. He was so lost in the fantasy of butterfly touches on his prick that he didn’t realise Gabe had called his name at first. “Mika.” Mika jerked his head up, trying to pull himself back to reality. His mind felt foggy and heavy with need. “Mika, I think maybe we should wait after all. For the explanations. I, uhm, need some time to digest this…whole shape shifter thing, you know? And I think you need some time to deal with whatever is happening between us, too. We both do.” Fear was a living thing battering inside Mika’s chest. “What do you mean by needing time and dealing with what is happening between us? Do you… Are you saying you want me to leave?” God, please no. The desire to run, to protect his heart had somehow given way to a strident need to stay and convince this man they belonged together. What would he do if his mate asked him to leave? Could he do anything other than grant Gabe’s request? Gabe rose out of the chair and knelt before Mika, leaning in to cup his face with gentle hands. A soft kiss placed on his lips helped calm his fears as his mate’s glittering gaze filled with compassion. “It’s okay. Whatever it is, it’s okay. I just meant that right now, this constant need I feel with you, for you, explains enough. I want to know the why’s and everything being with you entails, but I want to know you, too. All the answers in the world won’t help me do that like just being with you will. Those answers might muddy my thinking instead, divert my attention when all I really want, for now, is to think about us.” With those words, Gabe allayed Mika’s worries. He could be patient, for both of them, until he was able to explain and Gabe was ready to listen.

“You expecting someone?” Mika asked. Gabe leant back, still stroking Mika’s hair, hoping to drain away the last vestiges of worry from their conversation. “No, why?” “Because,” Mika said rising from the chair, “I just heard a car slowing to turn…” The banging on the door had Gabe sprinting past Mika. “Shit, Mika. I haven’t thought of a reason you’re here, how we met, nothing.” “S’okay, I can go sit in the bedroom, if you want.”

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He could tell Mika didn’t want to. Gabe knew it would be easier on himself to hide Mika, but hiding him would make Mika feel like he was a dirty secret. Gabe had been made to feel that way before and he was damned if he would do that to someone else. “No. No way in hell, Mika. Just plop down on the couch and we will deal with whatever happens. Besides, it’s probably Todd or Adam.” He noticed Mika had tipped his head up—scenting the air, maybe? Mika jerked his head back down, eyes boring into Gabe’s as he grabbed the door handle. “If those are your friends who were with you before, this isn’t them. This is a man who smells…bad. Like mean and trouble.” Mika spoke so softly Gabe had to strain to hear. He processed the last part of the statement just as he pulled the door open to face Sheriff Kaufman. Shit, talk about a mood killer. “Sheriff Kaufman.” That was pretty much all the greeting the preening ass was going to get. Judging by the smug look on his face, Gabe figured this was about the wolf rescue. “Staley. Heard you were on old lady Shumaker’s property.” “And?” “You ain’t gonna deny it, boy?” Uh…yes, using the ‘boy’ to try to make Gabe feel small. The fact that he had a good six inches on Kaufman didn’t seem to register with the man. If ‘boy’ hadn’t set him off any of the dozens of times the Sheriff had used it on him over the past few years, why would the fool think it would work now? Gabe made sure he stayed relaxed, loose. “Why would I bother doing that? It’s pretty clear you know I was there. So are we going to banter back and forth, wasting taxpayer dollars, or are you going to cut to the chase? Either is fine with me, by the way, but since you’re an elected official…” Gabe trailed off, biting his cheek at the angry flush rising up the sheriff’s neck. Gabe refrained from provoking the man any further, knowing full well the sheriff was, as he, Todd and Adam referred to him, fucking batshit insane. He wished he could tell Mika that, but he hadn’t been ready to ask how the mind link thingie worked. That was one thing that definitely freaked him out. Bringing his attention back to Kaufman, Gabe waited for the sheriff’s next outburst, only to find that the sheriff was momentarily distracted and wasn’t even looking at Gabe, glaring instead over his shoulder—oh! Gabe turned his head and watched Mika approach to

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stand behind him. Considering Mika had several inches on Kaufman height-wise, a smart man would have been a tad intimidated. Following that train of logic, Gabe knew the sheriff was going to be an even bigger asshole than usual, so he wasn’t surprised when he faced Kaufman and found the man wearing a contemptuous expression. “Been spending time with your…friend?” Sheriff Kaufman sneered, the emphasis he put on ‘friend’ implying that the men were something more than friends. Gabe started to get angry, but then realised that was pretty stupid, because they were exactly the kind of ‘friends’ the sheriff intimated they were. He gave a careless shrug and turned his head around to look at Mika, who grinned and stepped around Gabe to meet the sheriff. “Mika Blackwell, Sheriff.” Mika extended his hand. He let his arm drop when it was clear the gesture was going to be ignored, and Gabe thought for a moment that the two men might whip out their penises and compare whose was bigger. He was one hundred percent certain who would win that competition. The sheriff eyed Mika up and down, trying to intimidate him. Gabe choked down his laughter, because it was a wasted effort on Kaufman’s part. Mika stood silently, never blinking even as he let the man look his fill. “Where’d you come from, Blackwell?” Gabe bit his cheek at the sheriff’s tone. Kaufman was like a little bantam rooster trying to take on an eagle. “New Mexico, Sheriff. Is that a problem?” Mika asked the question softly, keeping a smile on his face. Sheriff Kaufman finally broke from the staring contest to glare at Gabriel. “Staley, where’s the goddamn wolf you took off old lady Shumaker’s property?” Kaufman’s voice was as brittle as his stance. He was obviously out of patience with his own games. Gabe stepped up beside Mika, resting his hand to the other man’s lower back. “Gone, Sheriff. Not that it should matter, I’m not in the town limits,” he reminded Kaufman calmly. “What do you mean, gone? If you turned that son of a bitch loose—” The sheriff was just getting into his self-righteous indignation mode when Mike cut him off mid-sentence. “He means the wolf is gone, it escaped from the kennels.” Mika’s voice left no room for questions. Gabe was glad the man had answered for him; he hadn’t thought of an explanation for the wolf’s disappearance.

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Sheriff Kaufman cursed a blue streak, on a rant now because Gabe had let a vicious beast free on the town. To listen to the man, half the folks had already been condemned to their deaths. Mika followed Gabe’s lead, appearing calm and unaffected, but Gabe could feel the tension in the man’s body and was afraid Mika was about ready to tear the fucking batshit insane sheriff’s head off. “You about wound down now, Sheriff?” Gabe was ready for the fool to leave before this little attempted power play turned into something else. “Am I wound down? Let me tell you something, you damned quee--” Mika pushed Gabe back a step and leaned in close to the sheriff. Gabe watched the fear race over the man at what he saw in Mika’s eyes. “I seriously doubt you want to continue that sentence, Kaufman. You need to really, really think before you let your mouth run off like that.” Mika gritted the words out, hands fisting at his sides. Gabriel pressed up against Mika’s back, just enough to let the man feel him, hoping it would help diffuse his anger. “You threatening me, Blackwell? It’s a crime to threaten—” Mika cut his hand through the air. He shook his head, voice casual. “Of course not, Sheriff, just stating a fact. Wouldn’t want you to slip up and say something like that out where other people could hear it now, would ya? It’s such a narrow step from words like ‘queers’ into hate crimes territory.” Gabriel grinned as he watched the words sink in, saw when the sheriff picked up what was indeed a veiled threat—and probably a worse one than a physical threat to Kaufman. Sheriff Kaufman finally turned and stomped off the porch, any attempt at dignity lost in his impotent anger. He didn’t even bother glaring at them as he slammed his cruiser door and drove off. Gabe glanced at Mika. Damned if his little power play hadn’t been impressive, and sexy as hell. He palmed his cock, pinching the head hard enough to send it the message to behave, and looked up to see Mika watching him, amusement dancing in his eyes and lips curled into a smile. The man looked so happy and carefree at that moment it was like a punch in the gut to Gabe. That was the look he wanted to see Mika wear more times than not.

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Chapter Four

Gabe sat at his computer, struggling to concentrate on a customer’s website that needed updating. Between trying not to completely cave in to his body’s demands for Mika and trying to sort everything out in his head, it had been a stressful couple of days. Sleep was a pipe dream because all Gabe seemed to do was toss and turn and argue with himself about whether or not he should walk into the guest bedroom and ask Mika to fuck his brains out. Beg him, if Gabe had to, and he worried he might, as Mika had shown more restraint that Gabe, limiting their sexual encounters to hand jobs so ‘Gabe wouldn’t feel rushed’. It was frustrating and irritating and not enough. It was also kind and considerate, but right now that didn’t seem to hold much weight with Gabe. Biting his tongue to keep from muttering, Gabe tried to focus on the job in front of him. Today, though, he just couldn’t concentrate on shaping up ‘Rick’s Rockin’ Rods’, which had absolutely nothing to do with hotrods. His mind kept drifting over his conversation with Mika along with the agreement to hold off on a Q&A session for now. Gabe had considered pressing for answers, had started to, but the look on Mika’s face, the pain he saw etched there wasn’t worth satisfying his curiosity. Whatever drew them together needed time to strengthen, time for Mika to learn to have faith in Gabe—to trust that he wouldn’t hurt the man as someone else had before. Gabe glanced back at Mika, who napped on the couch. He was so damned tired of being alone. It was…nice to have someone here. The fact that that someone was sexier than sin didn’t hurt, either, and had Gabe’s prick twitching. “Down, boy,” Gabe murmured. Now wasn’t the time to play. Right after he finished this website, however… Sighing, he tried to steer his thoughts back to the triple R website, shifting in his seat to ease the discomfort of his erection. God, he’d swear it was trying to burst through the seams of his jeans. A soft chuckle from behind let him know that Mika was awake and aware of the hardon Gabe was trying to ignore. He leaned over Gabe’s shoulder, peering at the computer

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screen. Gabe felt the blush spreading up his forehead and down his neck. Mika straightened, crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at him. “I’m thinking,” Mika drawled out, “that you’d look really good riding Rick’s Rabid Rammin’ Rocket.” Gabe looked at the obscenely huge dildo, and was pretty damn sure he’d swapped being red with embarrassment for white from clenching his ass cheeks as tight as possible. He spluttered and stuttered, then finally turned back to Mika. “No way in hell, buddy!” Gabe bit out indignantly, then spotted the smile. He let go of the mad and glanced back at the twelve-inch monster cock on the website before grinning up at Mika. “You come at me with that thing, and there is gonna be a fight. Loser takes all— literally.” They burst out laughing, just enjoying each other. What the hell, the website could wait a while longer. Gabe reached out and grabbed Mika’s waist, nuzzling against the T-shirt that covered a very sexy muscled stomach. The contrast of that soft, worn material and the rock hard flesh it covered stimulated Gabe on a whole different level, filling his senses with warmth and textures he might never have noticed had they not pertained to Mika. The sudden pressure of cloth-covered cock against his neck drew Gabe’s attention lower. He slid a hand from Mika’s hip over to the straining length, stroking it through the sweats that kept Gabe from feeling silken skin. He could, however, feel the heat from the engorged prick, could see the moisture soaking into the material where the spongy head spilled scented drops Gabe wanted to taste. Mika had other ideas, though, and pulled Gabe up from the chair and steered him towards the couch. Gabe’s pants were unbuttoned and shoved down so quickly he had to struggle not to stumble. Toeing off his shoes, socks and the remainder of his clothes, he watched as Mika quickly stripped down. Damn, the man was just unbelievably fine, and Gabe had to swallow quickly before all the saliva that pooled in his mouth at the vision of Mika naked and hard flowed out in a puddle of drool. He’d barely managed to do just that before Mika shoved him back onto the couch and covered him from toes to chest. Mika reached out and laced his fingers through Gabe’s, forcing Gabe’s arms above his head. “I need…” Mika’s voice was barely audible, shaky and rough as he ground his hips down. Gabe tried to move as well, but he was held down by Mika’s weight and could do

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nothing to help them as Mika repeated the movement. The friction of their cocks against each other, the excitement of being held down and unable to move was almost unbearable. There was something he could do—Gabe lifted his head and bit at the full lower lip that was begging for attention. “I know, Mika. Me, too.” Gabe groaned as Mika began moving his hips in a steady rhythm. His balls were already burning and trying to crawl up snug against his body. “Oh shit, Mika, can’t, don’t want to yet.” Gabe screwed his eyes shut, the image of Mika above him, glistening with sweat, mouth slightly parted as little grunts slipped past his lips—there was no way he could hold out if he watched the man. Mika lowered his head, that dark hair tickling Gabe’s cheek and neck as heated breath reached his ear. “I need you,” Mika panted into his ear. Gabe couldn’t hold back a keening cry as those words tore down his control and shattered it into a million pieces. Teeth caught the skin of his neck and the keening turned into a shout as Gabe’s whole body clenched and burned. Mika clamped down on Gabe’s carotid and sucked, sending an explosion of heat to Gabe’s balls. He came with Mika’s name bursting from his lips, the pleasure rippling from his entire body as his balls sent streams of come splattering from his cock. Mika lifted his mouth from Gabe’s neck and his fingers tightened their hold to the point of pain as he jerked and stilled, whispering Gabe’s name over and over as he spilled his seed between them. “Holy fuck, Mika.” Gabe tugged at his hands, managing finally to free them as Mika nodded in agreement. Gabe wrapped his shaky arms around his lover, weak on many different levels from the force of the attraction between them. Some part of him thought he should be scared of it, but he couldn’t be. Nothing had ever felt so perfect before, and it wasn’t only the sex—well, they hadn’t had sex yet, per se. Gabe closed his eyes and just enjoyed Mika’s head resting beside his, the weight of the man’s body, even the sticky spunk between them. The shrill ringing of the phone startled them both, but Gabe only locked his arms tighter when Mika started to move. “They can wait, whoever it is, Mika. Just, let’s rest for a—” The answering machine switched on, cutting off the rest of Gabe’s sentence. “Hey, Gabe, this is Adam. Got a rescue for you here, need you to come get him ASAP. Todd told me about the wolf escaping. I’m assuming he’s still gone? Come by as soon as you can, ‘k?”

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Gabe’s eyes popped open and he groaned as the message finished up. “Shit! I forgot to call Adam about the wo…about you, uh, escaping. Even though Todd told him, I should have called, too.” Reluctantly, he let go of Mika, coming to his feet once the man had gained his own. “We need to go to the clinic—if you want to go with me,” Gabe stuttered out. “You need some clothes, unless you had something somewhere?” He looked at Mika. The man was bigger than Gabe, and the sweats and T-shirt he’d worn had been stretched tight, emphasising all those taut muscles and, yum, the way the man’s cock was displayed… That thought had Gabe pondering if maybe he should go alone, because the man looked like sex on a stick. His brows knitted together over his forehead. He wasn’t used to feeling possessive. Mika was shaking his head. “I left the… I headed out with the clothes on my back. I was…in a hurry, I guess, not thinking clearly.” That broken look crossed Mika’s face again but was gone as quickly as it had begun. That was progress, of a sort, Gabe assured himself; at least the look was fleeting. “I’m glad you headed down this way, Mika.” Their lips met for a brief, sweet kiss. Gabe backed up, still watching the other man. “Where’s all of your stuff-- clothes, ID, things like that?” he asked, even knowing it might very well upset his lover. Mika tugged on his sweats, keeping his gaze averted. “Are you sure you want to talk about this, Gabe?” He darted a glance at him, sombre look turning sultry when he saw that Gabe was still nude. “Yeah, I do, and you need to.” Gabe plopped back onto the couch, deciding only after that covering his cock up might have been a good idea, judging by the way Mika was ogling. Grunting, he leant over and grabbed his shirt, draping it across his lap and shrugging when Mika’s brows tipped up. “Quit stalling and spit it out, babe.” “I’m not… Fine.” Mika looked around and took a step towards the leather chair before Gabe caught his hand and tugged. No way was he going to let the man put several feet of distance between them for this. He pulled hard and Mika sat on the couch beside him but did not try to free his hand. Good, but he still wasn’t meeting Gabe’s eyes. Well, that meant the man needed some coaxing.

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“Who’d you kill, Mika?” Gabe couldn’t bite back his grin when Mika’s head flew up and those startled whisky eyes met his, studied him intently before crinkling slightly at the corners. “Very funny. I thought for a minute you really believed…” Mika’s breath rushed out in a way Gabe found quite satisfying as his elbow met his lover’s ribs. “That was for thinking such a thing. I was just trying to make you see that whatever it is, it isn’t the worst thing in the world. I know you didn’t kill anybody, sheesh. So tell me what happened that you ended up here with nothing.” Gabe reached out and took Mika’s other hand, stilling the nervous plucking it had started doing on the couch. Mika exhaled a shaky breath. “Really, I didn’t do anything. Being gay, that was enough for my pack to decide to…kick me out, shun me. Whatever. I left everything there—” When Mika’s voice hitched, Gabe slid his arms around him and held tightly. Mika embraced him back as Gabe rested his head on his lover’s shoulder. “I could have taken some things, personal things I guess, but my home was pack property.” Mika shrugged, jostling Gabe’s head a bit. “I should have stayed calm and thought it out instead of just leaving, but I couldn’t be there any more. I was angry and hurt, and so fucking shocked. How could they do that? How could the alpha let them? Christ.” “I’m so sorry, babe. That is just truly fucked up.” Gabe was trying hard to tamp down his anger, trying not to say anything to make it worse, like how backwards and inbred is your pack? Mika excluded, of course. “How can they do that? And what happened to other gay shape shifters in your pack?” “I can smell it, you know, your anger. It has a sharp, almost smoky scent to it.” Mika kissed the top of Gabe’s head and held him tighter. “It flatters me that you’re so indignant on my behalf, Gabe. As for how they can do what they did, well, the alpha is the pack leader, and what he says goes. I’d thought Zane—my alpha—was a friend, but when members of the pack came to him to tell him they wanted me gone, he sided with them. Granted, they were high in rank in the pack themselves, and there were many, but still. As alpha, all he would have had to say was ‘tough shit’ to them. But he didn’t. And I have never heard of any other gay shifters in Zane’s pack, though if there had been, they probably left before it could be discovered.”

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Gabe leant back, still embraced and embracing his lover, but needing to be able to look Mika in the eye. “Okay, first off, your alpha sounds like a pussy who caved to pressure to me. Ah-ah, let me finish.” Gabe waited until Mika snapped his mouth shut. “Second, is there anyone above him you can go to if you want to be reinstated in the pack? Though I’m not sure that’s a good idea, but if it means so much to you?” He didn’t want Mika to go back to New Mexico, but if that is what it took to make the man happy, so be it. He’d just have to take Gabe with him. “I guess I could appeal to the Civitas alpha-- the alpha in charge of all the packs in New Mexico. He’d be first in the chain of command over Zane, but I honestly don’t know that it’s worth the effort.” Mika shrugged, not seeming the least bit interested in rejoining his pack. Gabe couldn’t help being surprised at the bit of news about there being a chain of command. Mika smiled, understanding the look Gabe hadn’t bothered to hide. “We do have a hierarchy of alphas. There’s the pack alphas, then the next higher up is Civitas, then Dux Ducis, and so on up to the big bad alpha, the Alpha Anax. I just don’t see the point, really. They’ve done what they’ve done. I would never go back to the pack now.” Mika leant down and took Gabe’s mouth in a kiss so sweet Gabe had to close his eyes to keep the tears back. “I don’t want to go back, Gabe. I want this, with you.” A whole hierarchy of alphas? For some reason, Gabe had just assumed there were a few anonymous packs scattered about. He’d had no idea…but something else snagged his attention. Gabe opened his eyes and studied Mika, aware of the tension coiling through the man’s stacked body. No, he wouldn’t ask yet. Mika was still afraid to trust him, though maybe it wasn’t anything to do with Gabe personally. He had a feeling being rejected from his pack had hurt Mika horribly and made it hard for the man to trust easily. Towards that end, Gabe could offer him something to think about. “I understand how much that hurt, Mika. When I told my parents I was gay, they not only disowned me, they informed me that I was an abomination, a mistake, going to hell, you name it. I thought, at the time, that I’d never get past it.” Gabe let go of Mika so he could cup the man’s face with his hands. There was sympathy and hope in that golden brown gaze, both of which touched Gabe so deeply he knew he was lost to this man. It scared him, but he’d never considered himself someone ruled by fear.

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“Then I came here, to my grandparents. They loved me unconditionally, and that healed a lot of the damage my parents did. I’m sorry you didn’t have anyone to turn to when your pack kicked you out, but you do now.” And he felt a little raw around the edges himself under Mika’s darkening eyes. Gabe dropped his hands to his lover’s shoulders, squeezing lightly to let him know that part of the conversation was over for the moment, at least. “I’m sorry, Gabriel. Your parents… I’m glad you had your grandparents, and grateful that you found me, that we have each other.” Mika’s voice sounded surer now, the wounded tone from earlier gone. Good, the man was getting there. “Yes, we do. And we both smell like a teenage boy’s sheets, sweaty and come-covered.” Gabe stood, gesturing for Mika to follow. “So your clothes, your ID, pretty much everything, it’s still on pack property? Will they toss it out, or can we get it? ” “I don’t think they will throw it out. I left in a hurry, sure, but most likely they will pack my stuff up and ship it here if I ask. They won’t want me to have a reason to come back. I have some money tucked away in a couple of accounts; I just need to access it.” Mika glanced at the computer. “If it’s okay, I’d like to use your computer to do that right now, then I’ll get cleaned up real quick.” Gabe nodded, distracted by what Mika had said about his pack. So, they didn’t want him to come back, huh? For some reason, that really pissed Gabe off. Bad enough they had cast the man out, but not even allowing him to go pick up his stuff? No, Gabe didn’t like that one bit.

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Chapter Five

Mika studied his mate, though he couldn’t yet use that term aloud, as the man drove towards the town of Shasta. He wanted to open up to Gabe, share the mind-link that was such an important part of being mates, but the man hadn’t asked any questions about the nature of their relationship. Gabe had said they needed time, though how much did he mean? Mika would not risk having his mate turn him away; he didn’t think he could handle such a thing. Still, he had to admit that Gabe had been surprisingly accepting-- so far. Sort of. Mika bit back a sigh and decided to let loose with some of the questions he had about his mate. He looked across the truck cab at the man, letting himself linger on the profile of his lover before remembering his goal. “How did you get started rescuing strays out here, if you don’t mind me asking?” The side of Gabe’s mouth tipped up before it flattened into a frown. “I don’t mind you asking at all, Mika.” Gabe shot him a quick glance, then focused back on the road. “Todd hunted me down one day, not long after he started his job as a deputy. I was finishing up breakfast in Chaz’s Diner, and Todd came in looking like cold shit. We stepped outside, away from all the small-town gossips, and he told me that he’d gone on a call with Kaufman about some stray dogs on old man Markum’s place.” He paused, drawing in a deep breath. Mika couldn’t keep from reaching over and petting Gabriel’s thigh, offering comfort in the only way he could right now. Gabe took a hand off the wheel and clasped Mika’s hand, turning it so they could twine their fingers together. “Anyway, Markum had penned the three dogs, and when Kaufman and Todd got there, the sheriff sent the old man inside and proceeded to take a baseball bat and…” Mika could see the shimmer of tears in Gabe’s eyes. Knowing his mate’s soft heart was aching because of Sheriff Kaufman’s cruelty had Mika’s temper spiking all over again. There was nothing he would like better than to take a bat to that fucker himself. As for Todd… “What’d Todd do? Don’t tell me he just stood there like a wuss.” Mika saw the glint in Gabriel’s eye and figured he probably should have bitten his tongue, not that he could have. Such passivity was not something he understood.

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“Todd isn’t a wuss, Mika. You don’t know him, or what he’s been through in his life.” Gabe’s ire was directed towards Mika now, but at least the sadness was gone from his eyes. It was a trade Mika was willing to make. “Then tell me, so I don’t give in and do something that will get me on your shit list when I meet your friend,” Mika muttered. Gabe started to jerk his hand away, but Mika tightened his grip and shook his head. He wasn’t going to allow his mate even this tiny escape from him. “Fine,” Gabe ground out. “I used to spend summers here with my grandparents. That’s how I got to know Todd; he was about the only friend I had here. He’d come over and we’d hang together. At first I didn’t think anything of the little bruises I saw here and there, but one day when he showed up, he was walking really stiff. When I asked him about it, he just paled and blew it off. Later on, we were joking about some stupid shit and I clapped him on the back, and he dropped to his knees. He didn’t yell or anything, just hissed out a breath, and his knees hit the ground before he fell over.” Mika’s stomach churned as he realised what must have happened to Todd when he was a child. Child abuse was well below the national average in the shifter packs, because children themselves were rare and precious, but it had happened on occasion. “I yelled for Grandma and both her and Grandpa came running. Todd was just…out. Unconscious. When Grandpa got him inside and peeled off his shirt… God, Mika. I’ve never seen anything like that. I will never understand how parents can be so fucking cruel.” Gabe was shaking his head, and Mika was pretty sure he wasn’t just talking about Todd’s parents. Having had great parents himself, before they had disappeared somewhere in the wilds of Colorado, Mika didn’t have any answers. He supposed it was just a matter of luck, who you were born to. “I’m sorry, Gabriel, sorry I called Todd a wuss, sorry about his parents, and yours.” He brought Gabe’s hand to his lips, pressing a chaste kiss to the back of it. “Some people are just born mean, and others are made. Both you and your friend are pretty strong people to not be like your folks.” It was the best Mika could offer when his body ached to hold his mate close and relieve his pain. Gabe nodded, tugging their hands up to his chest. “Thank you, Mika. It helps, you know? Just hearing you say that.” The smile he sent Mika had him feeling like there was a butterfly ballet going on in his belly.

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“Anyway, Todd was pretty much paralysed with fear, then swamped with guilt. When he told me what happened, I had to beg him to keep his job. I’ve always had an affinity for dogs…and apparently wolves, or at least one wolf.” Gabe grinned and winked at Mika. “I told him he needed to stay and let me know any time they got in a call about strays. I built the kennels out in the barn, set up a website, then I let Sheriff Kaufman know I was dogging his heels, so to speak.” Mika groaned at the silly joke, but the fact was he couldn’t be prouder of Gabriel. He knew he was getting the better end of the bargain in this budding relationship. “You’re a pretty special guy,” Mika offered, not caring if he felt like a fool for saying it. Someone needed to let Gabe know what a treasure he was. Mika would gladly swallow his pride to do it. He got an additional bonus when the tip of the ear showing in Gabe’s profile turned a dark red. Yeah, that was so cute Mika gave in and unbuckled long enough to slide across the seat and chase that red tint with his tongue. Gabriel moaned softly and bobbled the steering wheel, causing the truck to swerve over onto the shoulder before he got it under control again. Mika chuckled and scooted back over to his side of the cab, slapping the seatbelt into place as Gabe slanted him a heated glare. “You know, that’s a good way to get us killed, Mika,” Gabe pointed out, but Mika could see the twinkle in the man’s eyes—and the hard on pressing against the fly of his jeans. Goddamn, the man was hot. Mika knew his own cock was trying to beat its way through the sweats binding it in place, sending a painful jolt to his balls. “Yeah, well, you’re gonna have to take the long way to the vet clinic or something, because these,” he pointed at both of their dicks, “are something we aren’t going to be able to hide.” Gabe groaned in concession, then turned the air conditioner up as high as it could go and tilted two of the vents down in the direction of his cock. Mika didn’t think is was going to help any time soon, but it was the best they could do--without showing up at the clinic smelling like spunk, anyways. He reached up and started moving the other two vents.

****

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Adam greeted them in the reception area as soon as they walked in the clinic. He eyed Mika, curiosity evident in his gaze, noting the hand he had placed on the small of Gabe’s back. “Ah, hi, Gabe.” Adam stepped up, extending a hand to Mika. “Hi, I’m Adam Soames, nice to meet you.” His gaze was more questioning than anything else as he looked Mika over. Gabe still didn’t like it. Mika reached out to shake the vet’s hand. “Mika Blackwell, pleasure to meet you.” Adam glanced at Gabe as the handshake ended. Gabe thought about not giving him an explanation just to see how long he’d hold out before asking, but decided that seemed a little mean. “Mika is a friend of mine,” he explained, “a very close friend.” Saying they were partners, when Mika had only just appeared, would have been hard to explain. Hopefully, the man would be fine with it. Mika rubbed the small of Gabe’s back gently, letting him know he understood. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Mika. Did you hear about the wolf Gabe rescued?” Adam was still looking speculatively at Mika when he asked. The door to the clinic swung open and Todd walked in, forestalling the answer to the veterinarian’s question. “Hey, Gabe, I saw your truck…” Todd stopped, eyes widening at the sight of the two men who were obviously together. Gabe sighed. At this rate, they would never get out of here. He turned and made the introductions again, torn between snarling and smirking as Todd stared at Mika with appreciation. The smirk won out, because, really, he couldn’t blame anyone for drooling a bit over Mika. Besides, when Adam wasn’t watching, Todd was ogling that man something fierce. From the arched brow winging up his forehead, it appeared Mika noticed, too. When Mika’s eyes darted down to the tent popping up in Todd’s pants, Gabe glared at Mika and elbowed him lightly in the ribs. Mika snickered and bumped his hip against Gabe’s. His eyes were lit with amusement. Damn, there is no way I can be pissed, Gabe thought, not when he looks so fucking sexy. Mika’s gaze shot down to Gabe’s prick, which was turning into a nice bulge itself. The amusement turned into lust, causing the bulge to swell.

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“Stop it,” Gabe hissed. At this rate, he was going to be walking around with a wet spot. God. “So, you all talking about the wolf getting away?” Todd asked. Adam’s gaze shot to Gabe. “Actually, I’ve yet to hear the details from Gabe himself,” Adam pointed out. “The wolf escaped, I think by going through a window I left open, or maybe I didn’t close a door all the way. It happened after the third time I got up to check the IV. I spent at least an hour looking for him, then…Mika showed up. I’m sorry I didn’t call, I’ve been busy.” Oh shit, had he really just said that? Apparently Embarrassed-As-Hell-Red was Gabe’s new favourite colour. He watched as both Todd and Adam’s gazes zeroed in on his neck. Fuck. Adam’s eyes lit up. “Busy, huh?” Gabe wanted to melt into the floor. Mika slid his arm around Gabe’s waist, snuggling him close. “Gabe takes on a lot with the rescues, and losing the wolf really had him upset.” Mika’s voice remained calm, but Gabe could feel the man’s need to protect kicking in. He reached behind Mika and gave his ass a little squeeze. Hopefully he’d understand. “I’ve never heard you talk about Mika before, no insult intended.” Todd looked at the man in question, suspicious to the core. “Where’d y’all meet?” Mika squeezed Gabe’s waist lightly in warning. “We met in San Antonio, when Gabriel was delivering one of his rescues for adoption, and I was down from New Mexico visiting family. We decided not to mention our relationship in case things didn’t work out, you know?” Well, it sounded plausible, Gabe supposed. He’d never been one to kiss and tell. Or fuck and tell. Todd nodded, though Gabe wasn’t sure the deputy was convinced, but maybe at least he would let it alone for now. “You sure the wolf escaped, Gabe?” Adam had a worried look, and Gabe thought he knew just why. “Yeah. Sheriff Kaufman stopped by to raise a fit about me taking in a wolf. And there were no tracks from another person at my place. If that moron had done anything to the wolf, he would have been bragging all over about it.” Gabe rolled his eyes at his friends, a reaction the sheriff frequently caused in all of them.

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“That man is fucking batshit insane,” Adam muttered when he heard the rest of the story about the sheriff’s visit. “You left off asshole,” Mika corrected. “He’s a fucking batshit insane asshole.” Adam, Todd and Gabe cracked up, agreeing whole-heartedly. There was a quick round of goodbyes as Todd headed back out as he was on duty. Gabe turned to Adam and thought he caught the man studying Todd’s ass as he walked away, but he wasn’t quite sure. He gave a mental shrug and cleared his throat to get Adam’s attention. “So, Adam, want to tell me about the new rescue?” Gabe was ready to get back to his place with Mika; they had some unfinished…business. Adam nodded. “Got a golden retriever pup, four months old, jumped out of the back of the owner’s truck bed,” he said angrily. The vet had a real issue with dogs loose in truck beds, which meant he got pissed a lot as that was just what people in the area did. “The pup broke his hip. I told the owners he needed a pin in his hip, but the owners didn’t want to pay for it. After I checked the x-rays again, I called them and told them we could put a cast on it, wouldn’t be perfect, the pup would have some arthritis maybe, but it would be a hell of a lot cheaper. Guess what they said?” Adam looked absolutely disgusted. “I’m thinking they said no?” Gabe answered tentatively. “Not only no, but they told me to just put him to sleep as they already bought another puppy to replace him. I’d fucking like to know how they’d feel being euthanized because they had a broken hip. A broken hip due to someone being a fucking idiot!” Gabe and Mika stared at Adam. The man was furious; Gabe hadn’t heard Adam use the f-word much before, but he was tossing it around like a pro. “Sorry, it just really pisses me off when people treat their pets as disposable possessions.” Adam led them back into the kennels, heading to the row of smaller recovery cages against the far wall. They stopped in front of one with a yellow-haired puppy sporting a big bulky cast. Bright purple vet wrap was rolled around the cast. Gabe felt his heart melt when the puppy raised large brown eyes up to him and tried to wag his tail. Ah, geez, this one is a keeper. No way could he give the puppy to someone else. Gabriel could feel Mika’s gaze on him, feel him taking in his movements and, very probably, his emotions, if such things caused a change in body chemistry. He turned to Mika

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and thought yup, the man knows what I’m feeling right now, just as Gabe could read the smile and acceptance on Mika’s face. “You know I won’t be able to part with this one,” Gabe warned. Mika nodded, reaching out to stroke Gabe’s cheek. Adam’s grin almost split his face. “Love at first sight, huh?” He turned and began gathering supplies for his patient, earlier anger forgotten. “Yeah,” Gabe agreed, “it sure is.” And it was past time for the next step in their relationship. Gabe looked at Mika, need building fast and hot inside. His lover’s eyes widened before filling with a scorching heat as a sexy as fuck smile bloomed. “You know,” Adam’s voice was cheery and teasing, “I don’t know what you two are doing, but even with my back to you, I’m feeling the need to blush. Go on and get gone.” Laughing and thanking Adam, Gabe and Mika took their new family member and his supplies and headed for home.

**** Mika and Gabe got the puppy inside and tried to figure out the best place for him to sleep. Since he would have to be kept in a portable kennel box for a short time to prevent further damage to his hip, they decided the extra bedroom was the best option. It was close, but not so close that the smell of any accidents would be overpowering. Well, not to Gabe, anyways, and he figured that was as good as it was going to get. Mika would probably scent something like that from miles away. “You want dinner, Mika?” Gabe asked from the kitchen, digging through the freezer for a couple of steaks. He squeaked and felt his heart stutter when a strong pair of hands grabbed his ass. “You on the menu, Gabriel?” Mika purred, squeezing the tight globes. Gabe’s prick swelled so hard and fast that he was afraid he might have damaged it. Jesus, his man was dangerous. He pushed back, shoving his ass against Mika’s hands. “Can be, though I thought—” The rest of the sentence was cut off as Mika spun Gabe around and devoured his mouth. Gabe devoured right back with a matching hunger. Tongues thrust and entwined, simulating the act that was to follow. They stumbled for the

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bedroom, tossing off clothes throughout the house in their hurry. Gabe’s back hit the mattress, and Mika came down swiftly on top of him, catching himself with his elbows and forearms. Gabe had a brief flash of clarity and realised they might have a problem. He groaned and smacked Mika’s chest. “Condoms. I don’t have any condoms!” Gabe thought he would cry if he didn’t get something more from Mika. Soon. “Look at me Gabe. What do you see?” Mika stilled above Gabe. What did he mean? Gabe was too busy trying to keep from weeping with disappointment to concentrate. He shook his head at Mika, bewildered. “You didn’t notice that all my wounds are healed? Not even a scar?” A smug smile tipped up one side of Mika’s mouth. “You—” Gabe traced the sweat-slicked skin where Mika’s wounds had been. He couldn’t even feel a difference in the skin, not even where the bullet had torn through on Mika’s back! Gabe felt the frown creasing his brow. “That means what?” “It means,” Mika dipped his head down and nipped at Gabe’s cheek, “that, as a shifter, I heal very fast, and shifters as a whole are immune to almost every disease, with the exception of cancer.” Gabe’s heart pounded. “So we don’t need condoms.” The idea alone was making Gabe squirm, but not in a bad way, not at all. “I’ll understand if you don’t feel comfortable; I’ve always used condoms with nonshifters. We can wait—” “No!” Gabe wasn’t even embarrassed by his eagerness. “No. Mika, I can see for myself that you’ve healed up perfectly. I don’t doubt you at all.” Gabe’s next words had his cock pulsing and his balls aching. “I’ve never barebacked, but I want you, now.” He reached and pulled Mika down, opening for his kiss. “Thank you,” Mika murmured against Gabe’s lips. Gabe knew what Mika meant— thank you for trusting me, believing me. Gabe didn’t need his thanks, and when he bit Mika’s lower lip, Gabe was sure Mika got the message. Mika ground his hips against Gabe’s, rubbing their cocks together. Gabe moaned their mouths met, and they sucked and nipped at each other’s lips and tongues. Gabe’s protest at the kiss ending stopped short when Mika licked his neck and moved down his chest to the

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flat brown nipples there. Gabe arched his back as he grabbed Mika’s head, needing more. Mika raked his teeth across one nipple and pinched the other between his thumb and forefinger. “Fuck! Mika, please!” Gabe thrust his hips, panting with pleasure at the friction from the move. “Again!” he demanded, and knew his eyes must have rolled back in his head. “Soon, Gabriel, just let me taste you,” Mika said, then slid down until his shoulders were between Gabe’s thighs. “Bend your legs, babe.” He jerked his legs up, bending his knees and whacking his ass with the heels of his feet. Mika laughed at his eagerness, leaning down to lave Gabe’s sac as he brought his hands underneath him, parting the taut ass cheeks. He ran the tips of his thumbs over the tight hole there and sucked gently on one of the sensitive orbs. Gabe moaned and pushed down, trying to ride Mika’s thumbs. Mika grinned and engulfed the head of Gabe’s cock, pushed slightly on the puckered ring. Fiery heat shot through Gabe at the penetration, hips jerking as he buried his cock to the root in Mika’s mouth, down his throat. Streams of spunk shot out as Gabe ground his heels into the mattress, thrashing and cussing. Mika moaned as he swallowed, the vibration travelling along the length of Gabe’s prick and intensifying the strength of his orgasm until Gabe thought he would pass out from the pleasure. Before Gabe could form a coherent thought, much less a coherent sentence, Mika began lapping at Gabe’s cock, long, languorous glides of tongue that kept him in a haze of heightened need. Gabe couldn’t seem to get his brain to function. He heard Mika saying something about lube and struggled to answer. “Ugh.” Gabe grabbed for the nightstand drawer and found the lube. He tossed it onto his belly, watched as Mika squeezed out a dollop and stroked it over his cock. He reached down to help but Mika batted his hand away. “If you touch me now, I’m gonna shoot before I can be in you. Need to be in you when I come.” He squirted more lube onto his fingers and worked one into the snug hole. Gabe moaned, pushing against the finger, trying to get more. “Fuck, babe, you’re so tight, so hot,” Mika gritted out, sliding another finger in Gabe’s clasping channel. Gabe’s prick filled with blood, hardening as the fingers inside his ass pegged his gland.

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“Mikamikamika! Do that again!” Gabe felt the pleasure twisting inside him as Mika stroked the gland again, thrusting and scissoring his fingers to prepare Gabe for the coming penetration. Gabe groaned and reached for his own cock, unable to resist as Mika growled while he watched. Mika pulled his fingers out and crawled up Gabe’s body, pinning Gabe’s hand between them as he lined his prick up to the well-prepared hole. Kissing Gabriel, Mika flexed his hips and pushed the head of his dick into the moist heat. Gabe’s eyes flew open and he gasped into Mika’s mouth, muscles clenching down around his prick. “Relax, Gabe, let me in, please,” Mika groaned. Gabe panted, trying to relax against the burning invasion of his ass. “Trying, oh shit, Mika!” “Calm down, baby, it’ll be so good,” Mika coaxed, stroking Gabe’s hip. Gabe nodded and drew in long breaths, then he bore down on his lover’s cock. Mika yelled as his cock sank deep, burying in until his balls pressed against Gabe’s ass. “You okay?” Mika stared down at Gabriel, clenching his teeth as he waited for an answer. “B-b-burns a little, just a minute,” Gabe stuttered out. Jesus, he’d been a little worried about taking Mika’s cock, but he wanted it. Yeah, he did, so he relaxed, letting go of the panic he felt at that huge prick owning his ass. Pleasure shot through his body, pulling his balls tight. “Please, Mika, move!” He grabbed the backs of his thighs and pulled his legs up, opening for Mika. Gabe thought Mika tried to say something, but all that came out was a strangled sound as his lids drooped and his hips began thrusting, slow and deep. Gabe wiggled his hips, ready for a harder ride. Mika grunted, pistoning his hips faster, hitting that sweet spot inside Gabe. “Fuck! Mika!” Gabe slid a hand from his thigh to his prick and stroked himself once, twice, then he yelled out his lover’s name as he came, shooting thick gobs of semen on his belly and hands. Mika groaned when Gabe came, the velvety muscles clamping down on Mika’s cock as Gabe writhed in ecstasy. “Fucking beautiful, Gabe.” Mika leant down and sucked Gabe’s neck, marking him as he fucked harder and faster. Gabe watched in awe as Mika’s orgasm tore through him, felt

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his lover’s cock jerk before spurting in the depths of Gabe’s ass, branding him with each hot burst of spunk. “Damn,” Mika muttered, wobbling over Gabe. “Yeah, damn,” Gabe agreed, then pulled Mika down, taking his weight, and gave him a languid kiss. It felt so good, right, to have the man lying on him, inside him. Sated in a way he had never experienced before, Gabriel drifted off to sleep.

Gabe rolled over and flung his arm out, touching nothing but sheet. What the hell? His eyes popped open and he sat up, looking for Mika. Not finding him, Gabe stumbled out of bed, stomach grumbling over the missed dinner. Where was the man? Mika must have heard him stumbling around and called out to Gabe within seconds. “I’m in here with the pup, babe. Had to give him his antibiotics and pain meds.” Oh. Oh shit. He’d slept when he had an injured puppy to take care of. That made Gabe feel exactly like shit. He hurried into the spare bedroom, unconcerned with his nudity. Mika was crouched down, sweat pants hugging that lean ass. Mmm. Looking at that made other parts of Gabe hungry. God, Gabe couldn’t believe he’d turned into a sex maniac. Well, since it was only for one man, maybe it didn’t qualify as maniacal behaviour. He hoped. “How’s the puppy doing?” Gabe forced himself to look at pup rather than Mika’s ass. “Good, all things considered. I think the pain pills knock him for a loop, though.” “Mmm,” Gabe agreed, ogling Mika’s back, which made him wonder. “Uh, Mika?” “Yeah, babe?” he answered in a distracted tone. “Do you heal from everything?” The vagueness of his question made Gabe feel like an idiot. “I mean, are there no unnatural deaths—because of how fast the healing takes place?” Mika gave the puppy a few more rubs, then latched the kennel box shut. Facing Gabe, he pointed to his neck. “We do heal incredibly fast, but there are things no one can recover from. Silver won’t harm us, unless it’s a bullet through the head.” Mika’s eyes took on a distant look, clouding with memories before he shook his head to clear them away. “Any bullet to the head, or a long fall, car crashes, decapitation… The list is long, but it has to be a severe trauma to kill one of us. It does happen.” Mika shrugged and winked at Gabe.

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“I take it that’s a werewolf thing?” He had a feeling that would get a rise out of his wolf. Sure enough, Mika’s dark brows snapped together, almost touching above the bridge of his nose. Hehe, Gabe thought, this is fun. “I’m a shape shifter, not a…not some Hollywood monster,” Mika spluttered out, and Gabe had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing. “Well,” he asked, “what’s the difference?” Because, really, he wanted to know. Mika frowned, looking thoroughly put upon. “Werewolves aren’t real. We are. We don’t change only on the full moon, we can change when we want. And shape shifters don’t go around attacking whomever they come across. And,” he paused for emphasis, “we can’t turn someone into a werewolf, or a shape shifter, at least not just by biting them, anyways.” Okay, well that was real clear, Gabe thought. Not. Then, hey-“What do you mean you can’t turn someone into a shape shifter, at least not just by biting them?” He hadn’t really thought about whether or not he could become one, but now Mika had mentioned it, he was curious. “It’s, ah…uh, it’s an exchange of blood and body fluids, between…ah,” Mika murmured, a blush tinting his cheeks. “Really. What body fluids, exactly?” Gabe wanted to know that, because if there weren’t any other gay shape shifters, then how could anyone know what all had to be exchanged? Unless there had been instances of a female shifter changing a male, which is where he supposed the information must have came from. Mika raked a hand through his hair. “Well, it’s… To exchange, uh, each person has to…shit!” “What? That’s fucking wrong, Mika!” Gabe just knew his eyes were bugging out of his head. Mika’s jaw dropped open then snapped back together with a click of teeth. “No! No, I meant ‘shit, I’m fucking this up’!! Swear to God, Gabe…” Gabe burst out laughing so hard, he clasped his sides, tears rolling down his cheeks. “God, Mika, your face!” Gabe cackled again, bending over almost double and trying to breath. “Yeah? Well, you were looking pretty freaked out yourself, buddy.” The snit in Mika’s voice had Gabe laughing again. Mika stared at him like he was batshit insane, but Gabe

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couldn’t help it. He was happy, and the laughter came easy. He managed to pull himself together and stood back up, reaching for his lover’s hand. “C’mon, Mika, let me throw some jeans on and I’ll fix us some steaks, then you can tell me about just who exchanges what.” Mika eyed him warily but followed along.

**** Gabe set the plates on the table, loaded down with thick grilled steaks, potatoes and corn on the cob. He loved being able to cook an entire meal on the grill, preferring to be outside in the fresh air rather than inside sweating over a hot stove. Fetching a couple of beers from the fridge, he handed one to Mika and sat across from him. “So, you want to explain the exchange while we eat?” Mika shook his head and paled a little. Maybe he shouldn’t have laughed so hard at the poor man. Gabe watched his lover dig in to the meal, packing it away as though he hadn’t eaten in days. The sight was sensuous. The enjoyment Mika derived from the food caused Gabe’s prick to perk up, becoming fully erect. Damn, and that was just from watching the man eat! He reached down to adjust himself, squirming in his seat. Mika paused, fork in mid-air. A slow, sexy smile appeared as he looked at Gabe. “What?” Gabe asked him, tamping down his own grin. He knew what had Mika smiling like that. “You got a problem there, Gabriel?” Mika’s voice was smooth as silk and hotter than hell. “I wouldn’t call it a problem, nope, not at all,” Gabe answered just as silkily, then added, “I’d call it dessert.” Ha, Gabe figured that would put the heat in Mika’s eyes, and it did just that. “Really. Well, it’s a very good thing I have a huge…sweet tooth,” Mika bragged. Gabe groaned. “Mika, that’s just…” Well, the man did have a huge something, so he’d let it pass this time. Mika laughed and went back to eating his meal.

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“Oh, you shit!” Gabe’s voice was close to a screech as he jumped when he felt Mika’s foot slide up the inside of his thighs and press lightly against his balls. “I can always remove my foot, if you don’t like it,” Mika offered, though Gabe decided it was more of a threat. “Oh, no you don’t!” Gabe grabbed the foot, trapping it in place. “You remove this foot and I will be one pissed off man,” he said as he pushed against the appendage. He started eating faster, nearly choking as the foot slid over his cock, rubbing up and down. Mika paused mid-stroke, waiting until Gabe quit coughing. The foot started moving again, but this time it slid down his cock, down his balls, wedging underneath them. The toes wriggled and Gabe groaned. Mika withdrew his foot and stood so fast his chair tipped over. “You done?” he asked, grabbing Gabe’s upper arm. He nodded and was pulled up so fast his head spun. Mika pushed him back against the kitchen cabinets. “Get your pants off, babe, now.” Gabe reached down, frantically worked to get his jeans open, shoving them and his boxers to his ankles. Mika knelt down and pulled them off, running his hand over one big, smooth foot. Palming the back of Gabe’s knee, he bent his mate’s leg, picking up the elegant foot and running his tongue over the arch. Gabe squealed and jerked, almost kicking Mika in the head before he could control his reaction. “That tickles, damn it!” “And it’s obviously bad for my health as it could lead to the separation of my head from my shoulders,” Mika teased back. He trailed kisses up Gabe’s calves, following them with soft touches of his hands until Gabe was squirming, his arousal so strong he could smell it and knew it had to be swamping Mika’s senses. Mika pushed at the insides of Gabe’s thighs, encouraging him to spread his legs wider. Gabe squirmed for an entirely different reason now, feeling a bit embarrassed as Mika stared at him, spread out and waiting, all of his parts on display. Mika raised a trembling hand, bringing it close to Gabriel before hesitating as he met Gabe’s eyes. “I don’t know what to touch first, that pretty cock bobbing against your belly, leaving little pearly white beads with each tap, or the sac hanging low and heavy, or do I—”

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Gabe almost came then and there and reached down to twist his balls in an attempt to prevent just that. “Are you trying to kill me? Or maybe you need some help. Suck me, Mika. Put my cock in your mouth.” Mika grinned up at Gabe and complied, swirling his tongue around the head before sucking Gabe’s cock down, not stopping until he had his nose buried in Gabe’s pubes. Gabe groaned and jerked, fisting his hands in Mika’s hair. Mika swallowed, massaging with his throat, sucking in his cheeks, swirling his tongue, and bringing Gabe to his tiptoes as his back arched and he screamed out his release. Gabe kept thrusting, pulling at Mika’s hair as he shot semen deep into the suctioning heat that enveloped him. Gabe thought he was going to die from the pleasure. Mika suckled his cock until the trembling stop, and Gabe knew if the man hadn’t been basically pinning him against the cabinet, he would have fallen flat on his face. Smooth as could be, Mika glided up Gabe’s body, rubbing their cocks together. The touch wrung a groan from Gabriel and had his hips jerking of their own accord. “Let me take care of you,” Gabe asked as Mika latched on to his neck and began sucking and nipping. Mika pulled off only long enough to answer. “Just…put your hands on me, Gabe. I can’t… Not gonna make it much longer.” Gabe reached down and wrapped one hand around Mika’s huge cock, stroking firm and fast. The other hand went lower, squeezing and tugging on his man’s balls. His own cock took notice as Mika growled low in his throat, hips jerking spastically as he clasped at Gabe. He bit down on Gabe’s shoulder, hard but not breaking the skin, when he came. Gabe groaned at the bite and the feel of Mika’s cock pumping and shooting spunk on them both. He felt his lover’s hips jerk hard one more time, felt him lave the bite mark on his shoulder. Jesus, the man was just fucking hot, and Gabe’s cock was almost ready to go again. “That take the edge off, Mika?” Gabe grinned, arms wrapped around his man. Mika looked a little dazed and a lot sexy. Gabe pushed his cock against the man’s belly. “Just let me…catch…my…breath,” Mika replied, still panting as he opened his eyes. Gabe knew the moment he saw the bite mark. Mika’s eyes got big and round, and he looked like he felt guilty as hell.

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Mika brought a trembling hand up to stroke the bite mark, cursing softly under his breath. Gabriel didn’t see why the man was being so hard on himself. He hadn’t punctured the skin, well, not really, and it hadn’t hurt. The zing of pleasure-pain from the bite had actually made Gabe’s head almost spin off his shoulders. “Hey. S’okay. It was good, that little bit of pain spurred on a much, much bigger jolt of pleasure, can’t you tell?” Gabe grinned as he thrust his cock once more against the other man. He wanted that look off of his lover’s face and passion burning there in its stead, and knew just what to do to attain that goal. Grinning in anticipation, he took Mika’s arm and led him to his bedroom.

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Chapter Six

Gabe stared at Mika. “Are you shitting me? That’s just…gross. Wrong. Fucked up. The sixty-nine from hell.” Mika tried not to laugh at his mate’s reaction on how one converted their mate into a shape shifter. Having managed to avoid the conversation for days, he’d finally caved in. He completely agreed with Gabe. Having anyone, mate or not, bite his cock hard enough to draw blood as he came… The thought alone made him shudder and had his cock aching with imaginary puncture wounds. “I agree, babe. Teeth can be fun and all, to a certain extent, but like that…” Though, really, if his mate had his heart set on it, Mika would do his best. He just didn’t know if he would be able to keep his erection knowing he was fixing to have a bite taken out of his prick. “So, you shifters can just run around biting other people’s parts and swapping a little blood and, wham! A new shifter is born? Bet y’all would be really popular at a BDSM club.” The teasing light in Gabe’s eyes didn’t manage to dispel the tightness in Mika’s stomach. He looked at his mate, trying to judge whether or not the man was ready for the truth about mates. “I know that look, Mika.” Gabe frowned, studying Mika right back. “What is it?” “You pretty much forbade me to talk about anything to do with…us,” Mika pointed out, and knew his mate had been right in doing so. Gabriel had needed time to digest what had to be, to him, an almost fantastical situation. There was no way Mika wanted to jeopardise the relationship they were building. Gabe had the decency to look embarrassed about his demand for silence. “Yeah, well, it was a lot to accept, you know? But, I, ah, I think that maybe from here on out, we need to be honest. Not that you’re lying; that’s not what I meant. Just…I want this, you know?” He gestured between Mika and himself. “I want you, so I’ll deal with everything else. It’s not fair of me to refuse to acknowledge who and what you are. You deserve better, and I should be a better man.”

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And there, with those words, Gabriel tore Mika’s heart from his chest; it didn’t belong to Mika any more. He only prayed his mate would take good care of it, keep it near his own. Mika drew a deep, steadying breath, feeling a slight ache inside from loving his mate so much. “The need we feel for each other, physically and emotionally,” he knew Gabe felt something for him emotionally, but he didn’t know whether the man loved him or not and was afraid to hope, “the ability to share a mind link, and being able to change someone into a shifter—those are things that are only possible with very specific people.” Mika watched Gabe absorb the words and nod slightly. “Okay, and?” “Those are traits that are only possible when we, when one of us finds our mate.” Mika tried not to rush the words out like he wanted to. He would not let his fear of being rejected again muddy this conversation. Gabe looked a little startled, but the anger and confusion Mika had expected didn’t surface. Instead, his mate grinned, even chuckled for a few seconds. “That’s it, Mika? I was expecting something awful, you know, but you telling me that we are supposed to be together? Isn’t that what you mean, basically?” Mika tipped his chin in agreement, wondering at Gabe’s obvious delight. “So, it’s like we fit, two halves and all that?” “Why isn’t this giving you fits like everything else did, Gabriel?” Mika couldn’t help being suspicious of his mate’s good humour and easy acceptance of this latest bit of news. Not after the way he’d reacted to the shape shifting and mind link… “Mika.” Gabe reached out and clasped Mika’s hand, pulling it to his chest. “Mika, that helps everything else make sense! If that’s what we are to each other…mates…it explains the things I couldn’t understand, like that mind thingie and the fact that no matter how much we fuck, I have a hard-on almost all the time! Now I can quit worrying that I’ve turned into some raging nymphomaniac, and just enjoy.” Mika relaxed just a little. Maybe they would be okay, then. Had he known that telling Gabriel about being mates would ease the man’s mind, Mika would have done it days ago. It seemed the rejection from his pack had affected his judgement, or maybe it was his selfconfidence. Probably both.

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“So you… We’re okay, then?” Mika wanted to make sure, to be very clear on this—if he didn’t have to worry about speaking about the pack, or mates, or anything that would scare Gabriel away from him, if they could truly belong to one another. Gabe grinned. “I dunno, Mika, I think maybe since we are supposed to be ‘mates’ and all things being equal, maybe we should both take the plunge, hmm?” Gabe burst out laughing as Mika felt himself pale. Despite that, he couldn’t help but feel a little twinge in his heart at his mate’s statement. “Gabe, what do you mean we are ‘supposed to be’ mates? Do you doubt it?” Mika asked the question so softly he thought Gabe missed it. Mika hoped like hell the insecurity he felt wasn’t showing in his eyes. Gabe gently brushed his fingers over Mika’s cheek, offering reassurance. He leaned in and kissed him, drawing out some of Mika’s worry when the loving touch ended. It didn’t answer Mika’s question, but it did give him ease. “Mika, I’ve wanted to ask you something for days now, but I didn’t know, uhm, if…” Gabe looked down, which confused Mika. His mate was many things, but shy or timid could never be applied to the man’s description. “What is it? You can ask me anything, Gabe. Anything.” Then Mika thought he knew what was on the other man’s mind, had been waiting until his mate was ready. “Could you, you know, uh, shift, maybe?” Colour stole over Gabe as he asked, and Mika learned something new about his mate—Mika loved a bashful Gabe! The sight of that faint blush spreading over him… God, it made Mika hard as a steel pipe. He loved that, too, the way his mate could make him respond so easily. Ah, hell, he loved Gabe, period, but was just sort of afraid to say it. When had he become such a coward? The thought had him snapping himself into motion, pulling off his clothes and tossing them on the floor. When he was completely naked, he looked at Gabe, who was preoccupied staring at Mika’s cock, licking his lips in a way that made said cock twitch. Mika snapped his fingers a couple of times, saying his mate’s name to get his attention. “Huh? What?” Gabe finally raised his head, looking like a child who had his favourite toy taken away.

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“Watch me,” Mika said softly, then, “I love you, Gabriel” as he dropped to his hands and knees, smiling at the stunned expression on Gabe’s face. Bones began popping, shortening and lengthening where needed, muscles and sinews twisting. He thought he heard his mate gasp as hair sprouted up all over his body, covering it in the black, silky mass. His vision wavered as his face elongated, rearranging into that of the wolf. When the shift was complete, Mika couldn’t help himself, he wagged his tail—something he rarely did in this form but often for his mate in human form, he thought—then he threw back his head and howled. “Holy fuck! You shit!” Gabe glared at Mika, looking totally stunned by the declaration of love, Mika hoped, rather than the physical change that had occurred in front of him. “How dare you say that and then…you shit!” Even though Gabe was ranting, Mika noted the huge grin on his mate’s face, the way joy lit up his pretty green eyes. The howl Mika let loose reverberated off the walls. He could hear the spiking of Gabe’s heartbeat until it felt like his own heart was going to thumpthump-thump right out of his chest in synchronisation. Mika sat, waiting, knowing instinctually that this was an important turning point for them both. Gaze locked on Gabriel like the man was prey, Mika felt the weight of every second of Gabriel’s silence pressing down upon him.

Gabe swore his wolf was smiling at him, tongue hanging out as he sat on his haunches, flopping his tail from side to side. When Mika stilled and pinned him with those whiskycoloured eyes, Gabriel felt something inside himself burst free. He walked over to his furry lover and dropped down beside him. It was a wealth of warmth and love, so overwhelming it squeezed the air from Gabe’s lungs. He threw his arms around Mika and buried his face in his scruff, inhaling the scent of man and wolf, distinctly his…mate’s. Gabe didn’t want to not believe it any more. Everything about Mika felt good and right to him, and Gabe knew it was time to accept what was or risk losing it all. Risk losing Mika. “I love you, too, Mika,” he murmured against one soft, pointy ear, then fell back on his ass as the wolf began contorting and twisting, shifting and changing. Mika went from wolf to man in seconds and pushed himself back onto his heels as he grabbed Gabe and held him close.

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“You do, do you?” Mika said with a leering grin. “I think maybe you should show me since actions speak louder than words and all that.” Gabe pinched a firm ass cheek, making the other man yelp. “That works both ways, lover,” he pointed out as he grabbed Mika’s ankle and tugged, dropping him to his ass. “Stay right there, don’t move.” Gabe started removing his clothes, teasing his man by doing it slowly. By the time he took off his shirt, the final article of clothing, Mika was stroking his own cock, moaning lightly as his eyes burned into Gabe’s. Damn, that had worked better than he’d hoped. Gabe sauntered over and sat beside Mika, hip to hip, facing his lover, his mate. He arched his brow and watched as it dawned on Mika what he was proposing, watched as the man’s hand stilled, then Mika just sort of slid to the floor as he turned a ghostly shade of white. Gabe laughed at Mika’s stricken look. “Without the biting, mate! Relax… I won’t bite if you won’t.” Mika’s whole body trembled at his words, and Gabe knew what had caused that reaction. One word—mate. Seeing Mika’s reaction made Gabriel feel like an ass for taking so long to come around, no matter that it had only been days. Well, he figured he would just have to work to make it up to Mika. He scooted down until his hips were by Mika’s shoulders, then rolled to his side, pressing up against him. Gabe propped himself up on his elbow and ran his other hand down Mika’s stomach, relishing the feel of the chiselled abs under his palm. Threading his fingers through the springy hair that nestled Mika’s cock, he tugged gently, encouraging him to roll towards Gabe. Fisting that gorgeous cock, Gabe brought it to his mouth, engulfing the moist, salty head, laving it with his tongue. Mika groaned and clasped Gabe’s ass, pulling him close, then sucked his prick down to the root. The hand on Gabe’s ass slid down, following the crease to the furled opening hidden there. The hand disappeared for a few seconds as Mika slid his fingers his mouth alongside Gabe’s dick, and rubbed against him. His balls tightened, knowing what Mika was going to do next. Those fingers slipped back out, back around to the snug entry, pressing in and burrowing deep. Gabe groaned around Mika’s cock, bobbing his head as he worked his mouth and tongue over it faster and faster. The fingers in his ass moved in sync with Mika’s head, then Mika twisted his wrist and pegged the smooth gland inside. Gabe’s orgasm hit so

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hard he saw stars as he stilled, pleasure coursing through him as he shot his seed down his lover’s throat. When he could think again, he realised he was lying slack-jawed with a very hard prick nudging its way in and out of his mouth. Grunting, he clamped his mouth down and sucked hard, pulling Mika’s cock all the way in. He dug his fingers into his mate’s hip and hummed, knowing the vibration would push the man into a shattering climax. Mika’s entire body coiled with tension when his orgasm hit, tremors running all over. His cock swelled and pulsed in Gabe’s mouth, shooting hot spunk that was swallowed as fast as it was squirted out. He flopped back on the floor, so happy he felt like he could burst. “See, Mika? No biting.” Not any intentional, not that he knew of, anyways. He’d been so entrenched in the pleasure that he could have missed something, he supposed. Mika chuckled. “Yeah, no biting, but if it’s always that fucking hot, I don’t think even biting my prick would stop me. Maybe.” “Well, let’s not find out any time soon, ‘kay?” Gabe tapped Mika’s hip, laughing as they helped each other up and gathered their clothes.

**** Looking up from the list of adoption applicants he had printed off of Small Town Dog Rescue, Gabe watched Mika playing on the floor with Iko. They had finally gotten around to naming the puppy, choosing something they both liked. Iko was doing amazingly well, all things considered. Adam would be stopping by soon to check on him and, if Gabe needed him to, take Iko home with him for the next couple of days while he and Mika delivered three of the rescued dogs for adoption. Since everything on the forms looked good, Adam was most likely going to have a four-legged guest. Todd would be taking care of the dogs still waiting to be adopted out. Gabe had invited him over around the time he was expecting the vet. Maybe a little nudge would work things out for those two, one way or another. Mika rose up with Iko in his arms, carrying the pup outside to the fenced backyard. He strolled back in and leaned down to nip Gabe on the back of the neck, laughing when Gabe jumped and cursed. “Did you find suitable homes for Max, Moe and Annie?”

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Those warm brown eyes were not going to get Mika out of trouble this time. Glaring, Gabe rubbed the nipped spot. “Yeah, I did. We have to take M and M to Lubbock. Annie is going to El Paso. Normally, it’s about a nine hour drive to El Paso, if everything runs smoothly. But, we’ll be tacking on some extra miles on the drive there since we have to detour through Lubbock. I thought maybe we could drive on up to Gila, get your personal belongings. Since, you know, it’s not very far from El Paso and all, only another four or five hours.” Because he really did want to see this alpha asshole who had hurt his mate. He normally wasn’t a confrontational man, though he didn’t exactly go out of his way to avoid one, either, but the idea of actually going to get Mika’s stuff, well, damned if that didn’t put a smile on his face all over again. Mika looked stunned for a few seconds, then his lips quirked with amusement. “You want me to get my stuff, or you want a chance at bitching out Zane?” Hm, the man knew him entirely too well already. Gabe tried to look innocent, shrugging. Mika laughed and tugged on his arm, pulling him in for a kiss, a soft peck that quickly turned into a mashing of tongues, lips and teeth. They stumbled to the couch, wrapped around each other. Mika eased Gabe down and quickly followed, thrusting his cock against his mate’s. Gabe slid his hands down until he was cupping the firm globes of Mika’s ass, pulling as he ground their hips together. “Ah… We can come back later, guys.” Todd’s voice broke through the sensual haze, but Mika refused to simply back off the kiss, slowing it down until it ended in a soft brush of lips. Resting his forehead on Gabe’s, Mika cut his gaze to Todd—and Dr. Adam Soames. “Open your eyes, babe, both of your buddies are here.” Gabe groaned, embarrassed and still horny as hell. He couldn’t even bother to be freaked out about Mika using the mental link. He didn’t know why he should resist it any more; he’d accepted everything else. Gabe shoved at Mika, knowing his ‘buddies’ were fixing to get an eyeful. There was no way to hide his or Mika’s erections, and they couldn’t very well wait it out. Mika grinned as he stood, pulling Gabe into a sitting position. Feeling his cheeks burn, Gabe looked up to see matching looks of embarrassment on his friends’ faces.

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“Sorry, guess we didn’t hear you knock,” he muttered. God, this was just mortifying. Mika sat beside him on the couch, not looking the least bit embarrassed. That was just not fair, Gabe decided, especially not with that impressive bulge poking out there. Todd still looked speechless, but Adam was trying hard not to laugh. “No, you didn’t hear us knock, or pound on the door, or holler when we walked in… I think Todd had to actually repeat himself a couple of times before he finally, ah, got through.” Todd nodded in agreement. Gabe shot them both an evil look, and just for the hell of it, reached over and pinched Mika on the belly, getting a surprised yelp and an astonished look from the man while Adam laughed and Todd studied the floor. “What was that for?” Mika demanded petulantly, sounding so put-upon that Adam laughed harder, and it must have been a contagious laugh because Todd and Gabe joined in. Mika looked at them like they were all nuts. The higher up that man’s eyebrow went, the harder Gabe laughed. “Oh, fuck, Mika. You looked too pleased with yourself while I was just embarrassed. I had to do something.” Gabe snickered again and planted a quick kiss on his mate’s cheek. “I see, mate. Just remember, payback’s a bitch. And don’t think a peck on the cheek will get you out of it.” Mika’s voice was there in his head again, and this time, Gabe decided he liked it. However, he didn’t like not being able to reciprocate…or retaliate. They were going to fix that as soon as Todd and Adam left—unless he got distracted. Todd and Adam had settled down in the chairs across from the couch. Todd was casting what he probably thought were secret glances at the vet, who was looking at Mika and Gabe, still grinning. Adam leant forward in his seat, draping his forearms over his knees. “You know, Gabe, Mika, you two seem,” Adam paused, then nodded almost to himself, “you two just seem right. I don’t know how to explain it, but it gives hope to the rest of us. Or to me, anyways.” He leant back in his chair, seemingly content with having made his observation. Mika and Gabe looked startled for all of about two seconds, glancing at each other before facing Adam and Todd. “Thank you, Adam. Gabe and I are just that, just right together.” Mika rubbed Gabe’s back as though to emphasise his words.

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Gabe nodded at Adam. “Yeah, we are. I think that, if you are open to it, love can come to you. And that, my friends, is my gay, poetic thought for the day. Can we stop talking about the emotional stuff now?” Not that he really minded, but he wasn’t going to get laid until they left, and their guests weren’t going to leave until they covered what needed to be done with which dog, and they weren’t going to get on that subject until they got past the mushy stuff. Turning off his mental rant, Gabe tuned back into the conversation. “—a couple of extra days, if that would be possible?” Mika was saying. Hopefully that was about extending their trip so they could go to New Mexico, too. “Not a problem for me, guys,” Todd answered. “I like coming out here and playing with the dogs.” Adam agreed that it was fine with him, too. They went over the care of the animals and made sure the kinks were worked out. Todd left first since his shift was fixing to start. Adam rose to gather up Iko before he left, but Gabe stopped him with a hand on his arm. “I just wanted to thank you, Adam, and to tell you that, uh…Goddamn it.” Gabe hated this girly stuff, and damned if it didn’t look like Adam was enjoying his discomfort. Thankfully Mika came to his rescue. “I think what he meant, doc, is that we both enjoyed your company and want you to know that you are welcome back any time. That cover it, Gabe?” Mika’s eyes sparkled and Gabe wondered how the man made it seem so easy. “Yeah, pretty much.” Then he pinched Mika again as Adam thanked them. They walked to the spare bedroom and said their goodbyes to Iko before handing him over to the vet, watching from the doorway as he drove away. Mika turned to face Gabe. “I have one word for you, babe.” He stared at Gabe, giving him his best I’m-a-meanbastard look, which just made Gabe laugh, because he knew Mika would never hurt him. He decided to play along, see where his lover was going with this attempted intimidation. “And what word would that be, Mika?” “Run,” he said, lunging at Gabe, chasing him as both of them laughed all the way to the bedroom.

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Chapter Seven

Mika drove down I-20, headed to El Paso, humming along with the radio as Gabe napped in the passenger seat. They’d been on the road well before sunrise, wanting to make it to El Paso and Annie’s new home before dark. The adoptions for Max and Moe had gone smoothly, and he had sensed that the families were good ones, eager to welcome their new members. Gabe’d been happy about finding them good homes, but Mika noticed an underlying sadness in his mate at the same time. Gabe was going to miss the critters even though he was doing what was best for them. Mika’s heart swelled with pride. His mate was a damn fine man, the best man he knew, to be honest. He peeked over at Gabe. Fuck, he looked so peaceful, so sexy with his head tipped back and his lips slightly parted. Mika tightened his hands on the wheel, whiteknuckling as desire slammed straight through his balls, filling his cock. God, how far were they from being able to stop? Glancing at the GPS unit, Mika groaned. They were just coming up on Odessa, which meant they had hours, hours, before they hit El Paso. No way could he drive this hard for that many hours. He glanced again at Gabe. Damn it, no hope there, the man was still sleeping. Well… Mika took one hand off the wheel, reaching down to grab his cock and squeeze. The moan left his lips before he could stop himself, and he checked to make sure he hadn’t disturbed his mate. Nope. Damn it. Unbuttoning his jeans one-handed was a little problematic, so he steered with his knee for a few seconds while he opened his pants, raising his hips a bit to slide them down just enough so his dick sprang free. The truck swerved and he quickly grabbed the wheel with his hands, glancing again at Gabe. Still out. Geez, that man would probably sleep through a head-on collision! Which might happen if he wasn’t more careful. Mika took one hand off the wheel again, sliding it over his cock head, pressing his thumb against the slit on top. “Need some help with that,” a sleepy voice asked, startling Mika so badly he jerked the wheel, causing the truck to swerve sharply a second time.

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“Shit!” He slapped his hand back on the wheel and brought the truck off the shoulder of the road. “You startled the hell out of me, Gabe!” Unrepentant, Gabe laughed softly, the sound still tinged with a husky, sleepy note. He slid across the bench seat until he was thigh to thigh with Mika, ogling his cock in a way that made it seep out a pearly bead of liquid. “Mmm, you should have woke me up, Mika. Kinda cruel not to, actually,” Gabe teased, unbuttoning his own jeans and tilting his hips to free his prick. Gabe was so hard, already glistening with pre-come. Mika felt his balls tightening at the sight. “Keep your eyes on the road,” Gabe murmured, his left hand fisting Mika’s cock, pumping it twice before taking his own prick in his right hand. Gabe began stroking them simultaneously. “Goddamn, Gabriel,” Mika rasped, already close to coming, pushed closer and closer by the image in his peripheral vision of his mate stroking himself while delivering matching moves to Mika’s cock. Gabe moaned, tightening his fists, squeezing the mushroomed heads as he stroked faster and faster. Mika fought to keep his eyes open and on the road when his orgasm ripped through him, tearing a groan from him that he would have sworn turned his balls inside out. As the first shot of come spurted out from Mika’s prick, Gabe groaned as well, ass rising up off the seat as he came in thick ropes of semen, coating his hand and belly. The truck smelt so strongly of sex that Mika felt his dick twitch. Gabe felt it, too, as he hadn’t removed his hand, and rolled his eyes at Mika. “Jesus, Mika, I feel like the bottom of my feet blew off with that orgasm, and your Mr. Happy is already trying to perk back up? My ego may never recover.” The teasing light in his eyes took away any sting from the words. “You’re naming my cock Mr. Happy?” Mika asked incredulously as Gabe leaned over and dug around the glove compartment, pulling out some type of wet wipes. Shrugging, he opened the packet and flashed Mika a sly look. Later, Mika would think that if he hadn’t just come like a geyser, he might have considered what that look from his lover was all about. Maybe he’d even have given a thought to what several hours of air conditioning would do to wet wipes. Gabe pulled out a wipe and placed it against the head of Mika’s cock, snickering when Mika yelped.

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“Shit!! That’s fucking cold!” “Whoops, so it is. But look, Mr. Happy decided to take a nap after all,” Gabe pointed out happily. Mika growled at him, not seeing the humour in the situation. Gabe slapped another cold wipe onto Mika’s stomach before he could stop the man, wiping away the spunk that had smeared on the hard abs. When Gabe took out a third wipe, one Mika assumed was for his balls, for God’s sake, he swatted Gabe’s hand away with a snarl. Gabe batted his lashes at Mika, which did nothing for Mika’s now deflated cock or terrified balls. “I don’t think so, smart ass,” Mika grumbled, cupping his balls to keep them safe. Gabe rolled his eyes again, then took out a couple of clothes for himself, rubbing them in his hands to warm them as Mika watched through narrowed eyes. Gabe wiped away the remains of his release, ignoring Mika’s glare. In fact, Gabe just looked at him as innocently as he could manage. “What?” he asked, blinking owlishly, tucking his softened prick away and refastening his pants. Mika wasn’t having any of that. “You couldn’t bother warming the damned wipes up first for me?” Mika could almost see the gears turning in Gabe’s head as he came up with an answer. “I didn’t think about them being cold until you yelped.” And he said that with a straight face; Mika almost choked on his own reply. “That only works for the first one. Then you slapped another cold one on my belly, and, fuck, you were all ready to make my balls shrivel off if I hadn’t stopped you from using that third one!” “Busted.” Shrugging, Gabe leaned over and kissed Mika’s cheek. “I didn’t want you to have to drive with an uncomfortable hard-on for hours, so I did you a favour, mate.” Really. All out of the goodness of his heart, Mika thought. He knew Gabe was waiting for him to make some snappy comeback, but Mika just continued to drive, trying to look for all the world like he was complacent with Gabe’s explanation. He didn’t see the need to remind his mate about revenge being better served…cold. As a matter of fact, he’d sooner just avoid mentioning the word ‘cold’ to the man. Mika took the first exit he came to, pulling up at a little crappy-looking gas station. He grinned over at Gabe as he put the truck in park and pulled his jeans back over his hips. His

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mate watched him warily, and with good reason. Mika opened the door and stepped out, gesturing for Gabe to do the same. “What are you up to, Mika? You have that shit-eating grin on your face.” Yup, his mate was a smart man. “Your turn to drive, Gabe. But first…” Mika reached out and unbuttoned Gabe’s jeans, nudging them down and freeing his cock. He shoved his mate gently into the driver’s seat and quickly buckled him in place. Gabe tried to unbuckle but Mika shook his head. “Not gonna happen, mate,” he thought, and was gratified when Gabe finally started to look a little nervous—and turned on. Mika slammed the driver’s side door and jogged around the front of the truck to the other side. A quick glance through the window before he opened the passenger door assured Mika that Gabe hadn’t attempted to cover himself. “Uh, Mika?” Gabe looked over at Mika as he got in the truck. Seeing that his mate’s prick was already hard again had Mika’s prick swelling as a rush of blood swiftly headed south. Mika grunted in response; that was about all he felt capable of as he watched Gabe’s cock bounce with every beat of his heart. “If I want to, you know, do that link thing…how?” Mika’s gaze flew to Gabe’s. He was going to get to torment his mate in the best possible ways and give the man the final link to cementing their relationship. Sex and love, everything wrapped up together—and this part was so easy. He smiled at Gabe, loving the hell out of the man. “All you have to do, Gabe, is just want it, open to it.” Because it really was that simple; only Gabe’s fear kept him from using their mental link “Really? So, like this?” Gabe kept an angelic smile on his face. Mika expected some tender words or something like that. What he got was a very graphic, actually pornographic, image of what his mate wanted Mika to do with his mouth, his hands, and his cock. Mika smacked his palm against his forehead. God, I’ve created a monster! Gabriel laughed at Mika. “You know, I really think I’m going to like this mind-thingie after all.” “Oh yeah? Well you’re going to like what I’m going to be doing to you even more. It’ll be mind-blowing—and maybe there will be some other blowing involved, if you behave.”

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Gabe groaned and guided the truck onto the entrance ramp. Oh, yeah, Mika knew Gabe would definitely let him be the boss right now. He just hoped his mate could keep the truck on the road during the experience.

**** El Paso finally came into sight late in the afternoon. The drive had taken longer with them having to make stops to feed and walk Annie, as well as the time they spent loving and teasing each other. Gabe couldn’t help the melancholy feeling he had. Mika had kept the feeling at bay for most of the drive, distracting him in some very creative ways. Gabe had finally pulled over and hitched his pants up over his well-loved cock about half an hour ago. Now, however, the reality of placing Annie in her new home was riding him. He loved her, wanted her in a place where she would be happy and treated like family, but damned if he wouldn’t miss her. Mika took his hand, comforting him and giving him a feeling of peace. Traffic on I-10 was light, all things considered, and the GPS made finding the house on Yandell Drive a snap. All too soon for Gabe, they were pulling in the drive of a cute, mid-size house. He noted the large fenced yard, and the fact that the place was well maintained. Before he or Mika could even open their doors, a couple stepped out of the house, holding hands with a little dark-haired girl. “Mr. And Mrs. Ethan Basquez, and their eight-year-old daughter Elida,” Mika murmured. Gabe nodded, unbuckling his seat belt and opening the door. He stood and watched as they approached, taking in as much as he could, his spirits lifting a little when he finally felt the sense of rightness he had been hoping for. These people, this family, were right for his Annie. He stepped forward and smiled in greeting, aware of Mika behind him, offering his support. “They are good people, Gabe. This will be an excellent place for Annie.” Mika’s reassurance warmed Gabe through his soul. How had he managed doing this before without him? “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Basquez, Miss Elida. I’m Gabriel Staley, and this is Mika Blackwell.”

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Mr. Basquez stepped forward, extending a hand to Gabe and then Mika. “Please call me Ethan, and my wife Betta. I’m pleased to meet you. Thank you for rescuing Annie for us.” Gabe liked that, liked Ethan stating that Annie had been rescued for them, as though she had been for them all along. Betta stepped forward and shook hands, as did Elida, smiling shyly as she tried to peer past them to the truck bed. Gabe dropped down on a knee, meeting Elida’s level gaze. “Would you like to come meet your new family member?” The little girl’s eyes lit up as she smiled, nodding at Gabe. “Please?” she asked softly. Gabe offered her his hand and led her to the back of the truck, watching as her eyes rounded with delight when she spotted Annie. Annie was a beautiful spaniel mix, a buttery blond colour with a thick coat that feathered out around her legs and ears. Her little nub of a tail started wagging as soon as she saw Elida. Annie whined softly, wanting her new pet girl. Mika climbed up the tailgate and picked up a red leash. “Hey, Annie, look at your new girl,” he murmured softly. Annie delicately pawed at the latch of the kennel box as Mika opened it and clipped the leash to the matching red collar. He picked Annie up, not wanting her to jump from the truck and injure herself. Walking to the edge of the tailgate, he squatted down and handed her to Elida. Tears streamed down the little girl’s cheeks as she buried her face against Annie’s neck. Gabe felt his own eyes burn and glanced at Mika to see that he, too, had a shimmer to his eyes. “God, we’re wusses,” Gabe thought. “No, babe, not wusses,” Mika replied. “Just people who know how to love, and that doesn’t make us weak. It makes us stronger, stronger together. Don’t ever think loving is less than a strength. Or less than a blessing.” Gabe looked at Mika, letting his words sink in, knowing he was right, and thanked a God he hadn’t thought much about in years for the man he loved.

Mika and Gabe decided to rent a hotel room in El Paso rather than drive to New Mexico and spend the night in a hotel there. They’d considered driving on up to Silver City, but since it was one of the closest towns to the pack land—at just a little over an hour away—there was

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a chance they might encounter other pack members. It would be better for them to arrive with little or no notice to the alpha, Zane. Gabe carried their bags to the room while Mika went to pick up dinner for them. Tossing the bags on the floor by the bed, Gabe gave the room a cursory inspection, finding it clean and suitable. After calling to check in with Todd and Adam, he strode into the bathroom and quickly removed his clothes, feeling like he smelt of come and cleansing wipes. Well, he grinned to himself, there wasn’t much of a chance that he didn’t, not after today’s road trip. The water heated up quickly and Gabe stepped in, not wanting to risk it running out. He’d had too many hotel stays where the shower must have had a five-gallon hot water heater or something. As he washed himself, he listened for Mika’s return, worrying about his man even though they were still hours away from the pack lands. Gabe had just turned off the water and reached for his towel when the bathroom door opened and Mika stepped in. His gaze burned into Gabe, sending a coil of heat zinging to his balls. “So beautiful,” Mika whispered, walking up and pulling the towel from Gabe’s hand. Gabe watched his mate swallow, watched the slight bob of his Adam’s apple, wondered at the normally assured man’s nerves. Mika looked him in the eye, and Gabe waited for the bad news. “I need you, Gabriel. I want you. Inside me. No one has… I’ve never let anyone fuck me before, but I need this, need you. Just you.” Mika’s voice was rough with need as it washed over Gabe. Gabe’s eyes grew big, and his cock grew bigger. He’d wanted Mika, wanted to be inside him, but had been perfectly fine with being the bottom. It wasn’t like he wasn’t being sexually satisfied. He had wondered if Mika had ever…received, but hadn’t known exactly how to ask. Now, here was the man he loved, offering him something he had never given to anyone else before. Gabe felt honoured, full of love, and so horny he thought he was going to come just thinking about being inside Mika. “Are you sure, Mika? We don’t have to.” Gabe tried to make sure his voice was neutral, not wanting to let his own desires pressure his lover. But, damn, he wanted this, might very well cry if Mika changed his mind.

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Mika wrapped the towel around Gabe’s waist, using it as a sling to pull Gabe up against him. The water still trailing down Gabe’s body soaked into Mika’s clothes so they clung to his chiselled body. Gabe brought his mouth to Mika’s and kissed him with all the need and desire that pounded into him, grinding against his mate as they nipped and sucked each other’s lips and tongues. Mika pulled back abruptly and stepped a few feet away. Slowly, he unbuttoned his shirt. Gabe watched transfixed as Mika’s fingers worked at the shirt’s buttons, slipping each button through its hole in a sensual dance that had Gabe’s cock bobbing along. When it was finally undone, Mika let it hang loosely on his torso as he toed off his shoes. Walking backwards, he led Gabe out of the bathroom with an invisible thread of desire. Stopping by the side of the bed, Mika went right back to removing his clothes. Gabe was so turned on by the by the sight that his fingers trembled with the need to touch. He held himself back, not wanting to take control. This was Mika’s gift, Gabe thought, watching as his lover unbuttoned his pants. He shoved them and his boxers down to his ankles, letting the tails of his shirt part over his cock as he stood back up. It was then Gabe reached for him, helping him step out of the pile of clothes. He slid his hands inside Mika’s shirt, running them up the taut muscles of his chest to the sculpted shoulders there, pushing the shirt off and down long, strong arms. Their mouths met for a tender kiss as Gabe lowered Mika onto the bed, scooting him to the centre of the mattress. He shoved his hands under Mika’s thighs, drawing his legs up as he spread them wide. Running his fingers down his mate’s legs, Gabe removed his socks, then sat back to stare at the vision before him. Mika was laid out like an offering, thighs open wide, exposing his cock, balls, and the virgin pink hole that Gabe was dying to fill. “Fucking perfect, Mika. Perfect.” Gabe leaned over the side of the bed, digging in his bag until he found the lube and setting it on the bed. He looked back at Mika, wanting to touch everywhere, everything, all at once. “Where to begin…” he teased, trailing a finger from the head of Mika’s glistening cock down his balls until he lightly caressed the tight seal hidden below Mika’s balls. Mika groaned, hips jerking at the slight touch. “Gabe, please, I need…” “Need what, Mika? Tell me, tell me exactly what you need.” He stroked that hole firmly, pushing but not entering, not yet, just rubbing his fingers back and forth over it. Mika

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ground down with his hips, pushing at Gabe’s fingers, trying to find relief. “Tell me what you need.” “Fuck me, Gabe, I need you inside me so much that I ache with it.” Mika squirmed, twisting his body as he sought relief. It was without a doubt the most erotic thing Gabe had ever seen, and he knew this memory would be scorched into his mind for eternity. “Soon, Mika, just let me… Have to get you ready, I don’t want to hurt you.” Gabe leaned down and ran his tongue over the head of Mika’s cock, moaning at the taste of his man. Hands reached down and grabbed his hair, urging him to open up and suck. Gabe grabbed the tube and opened it, refusing to be rushed, laving the sensitive underside of Mika’s prick as he coated his fingers with the lube. He traced the crease beneath his lover’s balls until they brushed the snug entry. Gabe teased the opening with his fingers, sliding in one finger as he sucked the head of Mika’s cock into his mouth. “Okay?” How Gabe found the strength to think that was beyond him. “Oh, fuck Gabe. More!” Mika was almost frantic. His words came out in broken pants as he pushed his cock into Gabriel’s mouth and pressed back against Gabe’s fingers. “Mika, you’re so hot and tight! Got to feed you more—” Gabe slid a second finger into him, rotating his wrist and crooking his fingers slightly, rubbing the gland in Mika’s clasping channel. Sucking down his lover’s cock to the root, Gabe scissored his fingers as he thrust them in and out, so turned on by Mika’s grunts and— there, pegging the gland again—screams that he was afraid he would come then. Gabe slid in a third finger and sucked hard on Mika’s cock, rolling his tongue as he did so. Hot, salty spunk shot into his mouth as Mika thrust, grinding his cock in as deep and hard as he could. Gabe pulled his fingers out of Mika’s stretched hole and leaned over him, grabbing the pillows from under his lover’s head. He nudged Mika, tipping his hips up and sliding the pillows beneath his ass and hips. “Perfect, all pink and wet and ready for my prick, Mika.” “Yes, Gabe, ready. Now.” Mika’s eyes were barely opened, his breathing still came in harsh pants, but he watched as Gabe poured more lube on his fingers, then coated his long cock with it. “Now,” Gabe agreed, sitting on his heels between Mika’s thighs. “Grab the backs of your thighs.”

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Mika complied, spreading himself more. Gabe grabbed his lover’s hips and lined his cock up to the lubed hole, pushing forward and spearing Mika, breaching the tight ring of muscles that wanted to resist the invasion. Mika grunted and Gabe looked up from their joined bodies. He saw the discomfort and the determination in the man’s eyes as Mika nodded to him. “Kind of…bear down,” Gabriel managed to advice, wanting Mika to enjoy this, to know how good it felt to be filled. He flexed his buttocks as Mika did as Gabe had suggested, then he was sliding home in one long, slow thrust. Mika hissed as Gabe filled him, giving Gabe a moment of panic. He was pretty sure he could withdraw and not keel over if he had to, though he would rather not have to. Holding still, he waited until he saw pleasure replace the discomfort in Mika’s eyes, felt the ripple of Mika’s inner muscles, giving Gabriel the signal he needed. “So good, Mika, so fucking hot and tight.” Gabe drove his hips hard, watching as Mika’s eyes rolled back in his head. Pulling back only a few inches, he thrust back in as deep as he could. God, it felt so good, he had to do that again. Gabe fucked Mika with a series of short, firm strokes that had them both moaning and wanting more. He pulled out almost entirely, then sank back home, rubbing Mika’s prostate and wringing a scream from his man. “Yesyesyesyes! Like that, Gabriel, again!” Gabe canted his hips so each thrust hit the gland, faster and harder, watching his cock slam in and out of Mika’s tight hole. He wasn’t going to last long, not like this, not with his lover reaching down to stroke himself as each thrust pulled grunts from them both. “Ah, Mika! Come for me, baby, come for me!” Gabe was trying to hold on, wanting Mika to shoot, wanting to watch as he came. Mika tugged his cock in rapid strokes, and as Gabe burrowed in hard enough to rattle his teeth, Mika came in pulsing spasms, his seed squirting in his hand, across his stomach and onto his chest. Gabe’s fingers dug hard into his lover’s hips as he drove as deep into Mika as he could, balls slapping hard against his man’s ass, filling his clamping channel with bursts of spunk. Gasping, Gabe held himself still, buried in Mika’s body. He didn’t ever want to leave, wanted to keep his cock in that tight ass forever, but he figured if he didn’t move soon, he was going to fall over. Which could be painful for them both. Mika lowered his legs, letting

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them just flop down on the bed, looking as boneless as Gabe felt. Gabe pulled his prick out carefully, moving over to Mika’s side while he still had the strength. He should be a gentleman. Or something. “Gimme just a minute, Mika. When I can walk again, I’ll get a cloth, ‘kay?” And Gabe meant it, really he did. “’S’okay. Need to shower, gonna get up soon.” And he knew Mika meant it, too, but they both dozed off for a while, their souls replete, their bodies demanding they recover the strength they needed to move.

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Chapter Eight

“Jesus, Mika, it’s beautiful.” Gabe stared out the passenger side window in awe as they drove into Gila National Forest. The afternoon sun glinted in the clear blue sky; the land was beautiful, a mixture of mountains and lowlands that beckoned him. This view alone was worth the six hour drive from El Paso. He itched to get out and hike, to experience this place and the subtle power he felt humming throughout it. Glancing at Mika’s solemn face, he wondered if maybe he wasn’t just picking up his man’s anxiety rather than some subtle power in the air. Scooting across the seat, Gabe placed a reassuring hand on his thigh. Mika seemed to relax a little, dropping one hand from the steering wheel to cover the hand on his thigh. “I know you’re tense, love, but it will be okay.” Gabe thought about what he had just said, reconsidered for a moment. “Well, it’s not like your pack can kill us or anything. Right?” Maybe he should have asked that question before they’d ever left to come here. Mika barked out a laugh, squeezing Gabe’s hand. “No, no, they wouldn’t do something like that, though I suppose there’s always a chance Zane might try to kick my ass.” That idea had his lips quirking up in a mocking smile. “Of course, then he runs the risk of losing, which could mean death—for him, most likely.” “What the hell do you mean, ‘most likely’? I don’t want to hear a ‘most likely’ in a sentence like that!” Gabe tried to quell the panic that was roiling in his stomach at those two words. Damn it, this had been a stupid idea. Mika raised Gabe’s fingers to his lips for a soft kiss. “I only meant that if there were a fight for the alpha position, I am pretty sure that Zane would lose. Ah-ah,” he cut Gabe off when panic had him opening his mouth. “There won’t be such a fight, babe. A fight for leadership is just that, one wherein both parties involved want to be the boss. That isn’t what I want, have never wanted. Most likely, we will just be the subject of disgusted stares and rude comments.” For some reason Gabe couldn’t fathom, Mika grinned, almost as though he was looking forward to being harassed.

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What the hell? “Um. Why does that idea make you look happy? That is just bent, dude.” Still, Gabe figured it was better than the sad, anxious look of earlier. “It isn’t that I look forward to it, or want you subjected to it. No, I just know that if anything like that does happen, you are going to unwind on their asses. That, babe, is a sight I would dearly love to see.” Mika’s smile sent sparks of lust from Gabe’s balls to his brain. Geez, they were a couple of horndogs. Or was it a horndog and a hornwolf? That just didn’t sound right. Gabriel decided the whole thing might require some thought. “So, let me get this right. You enjoy the idea of some dumb shits harassing us, me losing my temper and probably getting my ass kicked in the process…” Gabe didn’t think that sounded particularly amusing. Mika laughed. “Oh, babe, it would never come to a physical fight. First off, it’s against pack rules to assault a non-shifter. Second, you would shred their egos in the blink of an eye with that sharp tongue of yours—and probably pinch the dog-shit out of them, too, for good measure.” Gabe glared at Mika, thinking seriously about pinching him. The man made him sound like a damned shrew. Though, if anyone did mess with his man, Gabe was going to rip them a new asshole or three. They could say whatever they wanted to about him, but he would not let them fuck with Mika. God, he was getting pissed just thinking about it! At this rate, he would just start kicking the ass of the first shifter who looked at them. Mika grinned at Gabe, who knew his lover was watching the expressions play across his face, feeling the anger and protectiveness in him. “All for you,” he thought, and as juvenile as it may have been, Gabe found himself wanting to rip into someone just to impress Mika. Great, now he was digressing into a teenage boy. He growled at his own need to prove himself. “God, babe, I love you! You’re so cute when you go all protective and snarly!” Mika’s amused thought had Gabe throwing an elbow. Mika must have known what Gabe’s reaction was going to be because he dodged the elbow Gabe aimed at his rib cage then hugged him tight to his side. “I’ll be quicker next time,” Gabriel promised, sending Mika into a fit of laughter. Gabe glanced at the road—well, he wasn’t sure he’d call it a road, it looked more like a dry creek bed—that Mika was turning onto. “Is this a road or what?”

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“It’s a creek bed, almost always dry unless there’s some flash-flooding. It’s a back way into pack lands, less obvious than coming around the other side of the park.” Mika grinned. “It’s pretty much a no-no to bring non-pack members in through here, but since you’re my mate, they’ll just have to deal with it.” They drove along the dry bed, bouncing over the rocks and dips for what seemed like hours, though when Gabe looked at the dashboard clock, it had only been a little over twenty minutes. He rolled his eyes, tired of being tossed around. Mika tensed beside him, and Gabe looked up to see him locking his jaw as he cast glances out the driver’s side door. “Mika? What is it? Your buddies here already?” Mika grunted, nodding. “Figured there would be someone, or a few someones, guarding the creek bed. I’m just trying to figure out who the three of them are.” There were three of them? Gabe tried to nonchalantly peer around Mika and see the shifters who must be in the tree line beside them. He thought he might have glimpsed something, a blur of movement, but couldn’t be sure. The whole idea kind of gave him the heebie-jeebies, like they were being…stalked. Being spooked had always just pissed him off, and this time was no exception. “Why don’t you stop the truck? We could get out and see who the assholes stalking us are.” Mika seemed to seriously consider what Gabe was thinking for all of about two seconds. “Nah, this works. At least one of them will let Zane know we’re coming. I can assure you they know it’s me. And I am looking forward to this confrontation now. The pack decided I was an abomination, unnatural. If that’s the case, how did I come to have a mate? This should fuck with their heads but good.” Gabe was fixing to ask Mika how they would prove they were mates when a large grey wolf trotted out into the centre of the creek bed. Oh, ho, so it was on. Call his man an abomination, would they? Well, Gabe believed anyone who judged someone by their sexual preferences instead of by who they were on the inside was the true abomination. As the truck slowed to a stop, his hand was already on the door handle. Gabe was ready to jump out and whoop some wolf ass, either figuratively or literally. Or both; it was all fine with him. Mika put a hand on his shoulder, willing him to stay put. “That is Zane, mate. Give me just a minute, then you can join me. Please.”

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Gabe didn’t like it, but he would respect his mate’s wish. Unless those shifter pricks said or did anything to hurt Mika. Then all bets were off. Mika got out of the truck and walked to the front of it as three smaller wolves flanked Zane. Gabe pushed down on the door handle, releasing the catch so that he only had to shove the door open if he needed to move fast. Mika stopped and leaned against the hood, not looking the least bit worried. Maybe that was good, because Gabe felt worried enough for the both of them. Why had he thought this was a good idea? He pushed the door open a little so he could better hear the conversation, or at least Mika’s part of it. The other shifters were still, well, wolves. Gabe didn’t care. If he had to, he would find a way to whip every one of the fuckers’ furry hides.

“May as well shift, Zane—y’all, too, Fernando, Azrael, Jared. There are no secrets between Gabriel and me,” Mika nodded towards the cab of the truck where Gabe sat glaring holy hell at the four pack members. Mika’s mouth kicked up in a sarcastic smile. “Though, I suppose you might want to run into the tree line and find one of your secret stashes of clothes first. Wouldn’t want y’all to have to worry about this queer trying to jump your bones.” As if. There wasn’t enough desperation in the world for that to ever happen. He stared at Zane, refusing to lower his gaze in respect to the alpha. It wasn’t like he was a member anymore, so fuck that. Zane gave a signal to the other three shifters before they walked away. Mika looked back at Gabe and couldn’t stop himself from smiling. His mate was poised and ready to bolt from the truck, prepared to come to his defence. “Join me?” Gabe was at his side in seconds, reaching out to intertwine their hands. “Don’t ever do that to me again,” he fumed at Mika. “It was hell sitting there, waiting for one of those assholes to do…whatever.” Mika nodded, knowing better than to argue, even though he had only wanted to keep his mate safe. “Stronger together,” he thought, remembering his own words from yesterday. “I’m sorry, babe. I was only thinking of protecting you.” “Same goes,” Gabe muttered, turning his head to watch the four men walk back towards them. Zane’s head jerked up, nostrils flaring slightly. “What’s he doing?”

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“He’s scented that we are mates. It is impossible to miss; all shapeshifters can scent mated pairs. And it’s impossible to ignore.” Ah, Mika wanted to laugh at the look on the alpha’s face. “Priceless,” he thought, as the man’s grey eyes widened in surprise. His three subordinates halted in their tracks, no doubt scenting the same thing their alpha did. Mika grinned, he couldn’t help it, and he noticed that Gabe was biting his cheek not to laugh as he observed the four other men’s shocked expressions. Mika was surprised his mate even bothered. “How…” Zane started, confusion evident in his expression. “What the fuck?” Gabe did laugh then. Mika couldn’t blame him, because damned if he wasn’t going to enjoy watching this man, these men, eat crow. The alpha glared at Mika, but it had no effect at all. He and Gabe didn’t owe the man anything. Although, Mika realised he might never have found his mate if he hadn’t been banned from his pack. Maybe he shouldn’t hate the ignorant asses after all, but being grateful was too much to ask of himself. “I believe you were banished,” Zane finally managed to grit out between his clenched teeth. Mika smiled humourlessly. He glanced at Gabe, saw the anger burning there. His mate tensed, all traces of laughter gone. He took a step forward before Mika wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him back. His grin vanished as he held Gabe to his side. “Yes, because I am an ‘abomination’, as the pack decided. Funny, then, that even one such as myself would have a mate, huh?” Mika let that sink in. Mates were every shifter’s dream, though a great many never found their mate. Smirking, he thought perhaps they had been looking at the wrong blend of chromosomes. There was only one other person in his former pack who had found their mate, and he was at least thirty years older than Mika. Zane looked at Gabe, scenting the air once more, no doubt hoping he was wrong. The three men behind him looked bewildered, but nodded to their alpha, confirming the mating. Mika decided to have a little mercy, which was more than Zane and the pack had shown him. “Gabe and I have only come to get my things, Zane.” He jumped a little when Gabe pinched him, then tightened his hold on his mate. “I’m getting there, babe, just be patient.” “What is it your mate would like to say, Mika?” Zane had noticed the pinch, apparently, or picked up on them using their link. Mika started to answer but was cut off by his mate’s voice, the calmness belying the anger coursing through his body.

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“This mate has a name, asshole. Gabriel Staley.” Mika jerked Gabe back again as he tried to step up to Zane, who didn’t seem to take to being called an asshole well, if the colour staining his cheeks was any hint. The three men flanking him started to rush forward but the alpha stopped them with a curt gesture of his hand. “My apologies, Gabriel Staley. I deserved that, but the next insult will have repercussions.” Zane’s eyes had narrowed to slits, not that Gabe seemed to notice. He opened his mouth once more, no doubt intending to blast the pompous ass again but Mika was faster. “Shhh, let’s not resort to name-calling. Well, not any more name-calling, even if it is accurate.” Gabe took a deep breath, nodding in agreement. Mika turned back to Zane. “If you threaten my mate—if you threaten Gabe again, ever, I will beat you to a bloody pulp and disband this whole goddamned pack when I am through with you.” And he would do it, too. Without a second thought. He kept his gaze locked on Zane’s, letting the weight of his promise sink in. The alpha could buck up, and they could move on, or he could fuck up and see what a wolf was like when his mate was threatened. “Damn, you’re fucking hot when you go all caveman, Mika!” Gabe’s thought had Mika struggling to fight down the blush that bloomed on his cheeks. Zane noticed, and his features seemed to relax, as though he had resolved some inner struggle. Stepping forward, the alpha bowed slightly to Gabe, then Mika. What the hell? An alpha never bowed to anyone who didn’t outrank him. It just wasn’t done. “It would seem that I must apologise again. I am sorry Mika, Gabriel. I am not used to having my…flaws…pointed out so bluntly.” Zane lowered his gaze, and Gabe thought, “I kind of feel sorry for him. Wait, no I don’t. But I could, if he hadn’t been such an asshole to you.” For Mika, it was enough. He had made his point—the pack was wrong—and hopefully no other member would be ostracised for their sexuality. Sighing, tired of all the posturing and pack bullshit, Mika nodded, accepting the apology. “If we are done, I would like to gather my things so that we can get back home.” The alpha hesitated, as though he wanted to say something but then thought better of it. “Of course, Mika. I believe your things were to be packed and the boxes left in your house,

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until we knew where to send them.” He turned and started walking towards the pack dwellings, trailed by his men. “Zane,” Gabe called out, a challenge glittering in his eyes. He waited until the other man turned to face him. “You could always ride there with us.” It was, Mika was certain, a dare meant to irritate the alpha. He was sorely tempted to pull a Gabe and pinch his mate. Or pull him close and kiss him senseless. Zane looked at Gabe, studying him, no doubt picking up on the scent of his anger. He grinned suddenly and, surprising Gabe and Mika both, walked over to the truck. “I think I’ll take you up on that, Gabriel, just because it will irritate you to have to sit by the evil alpha.” Mika laughed as his mate scowled and climbed in the truck, glaring as the alpha hopped in beside him. “Oh, babe, I think your plan just bit you in the ass!” Mika’s grin died as Gabe looked at him, big eyed and innocent. “Really, Mika? So you don’t mind that your former alpha is pressed up— Mika snarled, jerking Gabe onto his lap, putting his mate’s back up against the driver’s door. Zane looked a bit startled, but Mika didn’t give a damn. It would be a couple of hours before they reached the heart of the pack lands since they had to follow the creek bed. Thanks to Gabe’s invitation to Zane, the drive would seem twice as long. Mika’s temper was already on edge; there was no way Gabe was going to have any of the alpha’s scent on him. That would very likely result in Mika doing the very thing he’d threatened Zane with earlier.

**** Mika figured the word had spread throughout the pack not long after they started loading up his things. He could feel curious stares, but for the most part, the hostility that had been rampant before was gone. Well, that was going to be a good thing for the next gay shifter born into the pack. “Last box,” Gabe informed him, placing it in the truck bed. “Ready to get out of here?” “Oh, yeah. I, uh, I miss Iko, ya know?” Mika didn’t know why that was hard to say, but there ya go. Gabe nodded, tossing tie-down straps across the truck bed. Mika grabbed the

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straps on his side of the bed and locked them down as his mate secured his side. The task finally complete, they walked to the cab of the truck and got in. Gabe stuck the keys in the ignition, giving a startled yelp as someone rapped on his window. Mika scented Zane before he saw him waiting for Gabe to roll down the window. “Yeah?” It was obvious Gabe wasn’t quite done being mad at the alpha, but he was trying not to be a bitch. Sort of, Mika conceded. God, his mate made him happy. “I just wanted to tell you…tell you both that you are welcome so stay here tonight, if you’d like.” Mika scented the sincerity with which Zane spoke. It helped ease the hurt that still lingered, but didn’t eradicate it. Still, he did appreciate the offer. Gabe looked at Mika, leaving the decision in his hands. “That’ll be a no, babe,” he thought. “I have plans for you tonight that I don’t feel like sharing with my former pack. Most of them have excellent hearing—and an incomparable sense of smell. That message had a smile of anticipation streaking over Gabe’s face. Mika looked at Zane. “We appreciate it, but…” he trailed off. There were too many reasons to say no. Zane nodded. “I understand. For what it’s worth, which is probably nothing to y’all, I am sorry.” He turned and walked off, hands in his jeans pockets. “Well, that wasn’t awkward,” Gabe grumbled, starting the engine and putting the truck in gear. “So, where to, caveman? You want to make a straight drive home? It’s almost dark now, but we could probably handle a twelve-hour drive, if you want.” Mika grinned at the nickname, scenting the hint of his mate’s arousal as he spoke. Mika felt his balls tighten as he shook his head. “No way, babe, I told you I have plans for you tonight. I think Silver City is about as far as I’m gonna be able to make it to before I have to fuck you.” He slid his hand over the bulge in Gabe’s jeans, rubbing the hard cock through the material.

“Oh, shit,” Gabe groaned, thrusting his hips into the touch. “You keep that up and we aren’t going to make it to Silver City.” Mika pulled his hand back, sweeping the length of Gabe’s thigh with a hard press of palm and fingers. It was nearly as distracting as fondling Gabe’s prick had been.

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He pushed the gas pedal down a little more and tried to concentrate on getting to the little town and getting there fast. Half an hour later, darkness had fallen and Mika started working the fastenings on Gabe’s jeans, loosening them until he could reach Gabe’s dick. When he ran his thumb over the plump head, pushing at the little slit on top, Gabe groaned and looked in the rearview. Nope, nothing but dark, empty road for miles. He steered the truck over, off the shoulder, farther still until it was several feet from the road. Slapping the gear in park and shutting off the lights and engine, Gabe turned to face Mika. “Glove compartment—grab the lube.” He didn’t wait to see if Mika complied, instead opening the door and getting out, holding his pants up with one hand as he made his way around to the passenger door. Oh, fuck yeah, his man had listened and done one better, pulling his pants open and freeing that thick, long cock. Gabe’s vision blurred, lust rolling through him so hard he felt his knees tremble. Mika slid off the seat and reached for Gabe, taking his mouth in a teeth-clacking kiss. Gabe dropped his hand away and let his jeans slide halfway down his legs, bracing his feet apart to catch the clothes around his knees. “Fuck me now, Mika, I can’t wait,” he ground out. Mika moved aside, just enough for Gabe to step forward and lean over the side of the bench seat. Reaching back, he grabbed his cheeks and spread for Mika. “Goddamn, Gabriel. Look at you. Look at you.” Mika opened the lube and coated his cock in a few hard strokes, moaning, eyes never leaving Gabe’s ass. “Now,” Gabe demanded, because he was just about going to explode if he didn’t feel that thick cock in his ass in the next couple of seconds. Mika grasped Gabe’s lean hips and pressed his dick against Gabe’s opening, trying to be gentle. Gabe wasn’t having it. “Fuck. Me. Now. Hard.” He pushed back with his arms, using his body weight to impale himself on Mika’s prick. Mika grunted and thrust hard, filling Gabe so suddenly and perfectly that he could have wept. Gabe tried to form a coherent thought, to say something to Mika—praise him, worship him, hell, he didn’t know—but the need uncoiling inside him took over as he felt Mika lose control. His thrusts weren’t rhythmic, they weren’t practiced moves. Instinct drove him, pure and simple, to mate, to claim and dominate. Gabe knew Mika’s wolf nature was taking over.

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Gabe yelled as Mika reached around and grabbed his dripping cock. The hand tightened and stroked, milking him, pulling the seed from his balls as an orgasm ripped through him. Holy-shit-and-goddamn, Mika fucked him with slamming, ball-slapping strokes as thick streams of come shot out Gabe’s prick and the muscles in his ass clamped down hard. Mika leant forward and bit Gabe where his shoulder and neck met, pinning him down. Mika’s groan vibrated through them both as he shoved in as deep as he could go, pumping in something close to desperation as he came, filling Gabe with his release. Gabe and Mika collapsed onto the truck seat, unable to hold themselves up. They lay gasping, half in the truck, too overpowered by what they had just experienced to move. When the haze began to clear from his brain, Gabe pushed back, nudging Mika to stand. He pulled out of Gabe’s ass gently, sending shivers down Gabe’s spine. Gabe started to rise but Mika kept a hand on his lower back, holding him down. “Fuck, babe, I’m sorry,” Mika murmured, and it was then that Gabriel realised his mate was looking at the bite mark he’d left behind. Gabe hoped Mika didn’t look too close, because he was pretty sure there were fingerprints and scratches he had thoroughly enjoyed getting, but his lover would torture himself over. “God, Gabe, I’m sorry, so sorry. Too rough—” Gabe cut him off with a husky laugh; he should have known Mika wouldn’t miss anything. “Uh-uh, Mika-mate, don’t go getting all angst-ridden. You were just what I needed.” He reached back and grabbed Mika’s hand before standing and turning gingerly to face him. Gabe cupped Mika’s jaw, leaning in to brush a feathery kiss on his lips. “You were just what I wanted,” he breathed softly against his mate’s mouth. “You’re the one who said we were made for each other; that should tell you that what you give is what I need. If you’re going to get all guilty feeling and promise to never do it again, I will do something much worse than pinch you, got it?” Laughing, Mika hugged Gabe. “Gabriel, you really are so fucking perfect for me, with me. I love you.” Those words never failed to send a shiver down Gabe’s spine. He’d had no idea how much he longed to hear them from his lover’s lips until Mika had told him when he went to shift. But he was not going to get all emotional about it, despite the way his insides felt all warm and tingly.

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“Damn straight you do, caveman, and I love you, too. Now, let’s get our asses to Silver City.” Gabe smiled at the heat that flared in Mika’s eyes. He gave Mika a tender kiss—that was not sappy, he told himself— then slapped Mika on the ass and rounded the front of the truck. They had just loaded back into the truck when Gabe’s cell started ringing, displaying Todd’s number. Gabe felt his gut knot up when he saw the number. Todd was on-shift, unless it was his day off. Either way, a chill skittered up his spine as a sense of foreboding coursed through him. He tried to shake it off, thinking he was just being paranoid as he tapped the screen twice to answer. Putting the call on speaker so he could drive, Gabe glanced at Mika. The man was glaring at the phone as though it were the embodiment of evil. “What’s wrong, Todd?” Gabe didn’t see any point in wasting time on formalities. The voice coming back at him surprised him. “Ah, actually, this is Adam.” Okay, then. “Todd’s been hurt out on your place, he’s—” “Is he okay? What happened?” Gabe cut the vet off, worry gnawing on his belly. Mika took his hand. “He, ah, he should be fine, hopefully, I mean. The doctor said he’ll fully recover, that’s what I am trying to say, Gabe. I stopped by to check on things, to make sure, um, that the dogs were doing okay, you know?” Gabe wasn’t so far gone that he didn’t notice the stammering and recognise it for what it was. Adam had stopped by to see Todd, for one reason or another. That, he would worry about later. “What happened, Adam?” Mika’s question came out sounding gruff and barely civil. “Uh. I got here and found…Todd. He was out at the kennels and he was…was on the ground, bloody.” Adam’s voice hitched softly. Gabe clasped Mika’s hand for comfort. “Ssomeone had b-b-beaten him with…” A quiet sob echoed over the phone. Gabe floored the gas. Goddamn it, what was going on? “Doc? Adam? It’s…” Gabe trailed off, realising that he was going to say ‘it’s okay’, but it wasn’t, wouldn’t be until they knew the who, what and why. Adam took a shaky breath. “It’s fucked up, Gabe. There was a p-p-pipe not far from where he… It was covered in blood…”

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Mika looked at Gabe, fury radiating off them both as they heard the stuttered breaths heavy with tears. “Kaufman, has to be. That fucker is going to pay. If I was there, I could scent out who did this.” Gabe shook his head. “Only if you knew the scent, right? It might not be Kaufman, we don’t know for sure.” He turned his attention back to the call. “Adam. Adam.” He waited until he heard the vet reply before continuing. “We’re heading back, still in New Mexico, at least fourteen hours away but hauling ass. What condition is Todd in? Were the dogs hurt?” “He, uh, he has some broken ribs, fractured jaw, a pretty bad concussion. He hasn’t regained consciousness, though the doctor said that is normal with the extent of the injuries he has. They ordered an MRI to check for any bleeding on the brain, which should be getting done any moment now.” Adam’s voice had taken on a clinical note, as though he were trying to distance himself from what he was saying. “The dogs are… They’re fine, Gabe, I’m sorry. I should have mentioned sooner. I don’t know if…if Todd finished up with them or not. I didn’t think, and I can’t leave him up here alone—” Gabe bit back a groan of frustration. They were too fucking far away to be of any help. Mika put his arm around Gabe’s shoulder, hugging him as much as was possible with the positions they were in. “Just stay with Todd, doc. Someone needs to be watching out for him, and I’m betting the sheriff isn’t posting anyone at his door, is he?” Gabe tried to keep calm, when all he wanted to do was smash something—or let Mika tear it apart with his teeth. “Okay, okay. I am sorry, though. I don’t know if the dogs were barking and that was why Todd went out there, or…what. I just don’t know.” The man sounded wrung out, and Gabe couldn’t help but feel for him. He couldn’t imagine what he would do if someone had hurt Mika. Well, other than finding that person and dismembering them. “We appreciate what you’ve done, doc. It isn’t your fault some son of a bitch went psycho. Just stay with Todd, and be alert. I can’t stress that enough. We’ll get there as soon as we can and call you when we hit town.” Mika seemed calm as he talked to Adam, but Gabe was very aware of the danger seeping from his mate. The man was riding his wolf nature, probably hadn’t had the chance to come down from it after their fierce coupling.

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“Yeah, just listen to Mika, Adam. We’ll handle the dogs when we get back, and…whatever else, okay?” Gabe finished up and disconnected the call. What the hell was going on? He looked at Mika, his only source of sanity at this point. “What the fuck, Mika? Who would do this? And why Todd?” It just didn’t make any sense to Gabe. “I don’t know, babe. I wish I did. Seems crazy, even for the fucking batshit insane asshole, to attack Todd. I’d be more inclined to expect him to attack the dogs. Does Todd have any enemies that you know of?” Gabe thought it over as Mika watched him impatiently. He shook his head; he couldn’t think of anyone who would want to hurt his friend. “No. Everyone likes Todd. I mean, how could they not? He’s always polite, friendly, but he keeps pretty much everyone at a distance.” “Because he doesn’t want people to know he’s gay?” Mika asked. Gabe nodded. “I think so. He knows how my family reacted, and his folks are… You know how they are. Besides being pretty religious, you know, the ‘spare the rod spoil the kid’ religious way. I’ve already told you that Todd wasn’t spoiled, either. Added to that, it’s harder for him because he grew up here, and everyone knows him, ya know? Me being gay, well, I was pretty much an outsider anyways, and I didn’t exactly rent a billboard announcing it. I just didn’t hide it, or deny it. Plus, I’ve never, uh…” Hmm. Maybe he should have thought that sentence out before he spoke, because now he felt like a dumbass. “You never…what, babe?” Mika teased. Gabe glared back at him, the smug prick. “Smart ass. I meant I’ve never had a…partner…not in Shasta, not anywhere. I always kept my personal life private, so no one in town ever saw me with a man. Easier, probably, for them to pretend I’m not gay, though that isn’t why I did it.” Please, let that be enough on this embarrassing topic. “Why did you do it?” Mika wasn’t going to let it drop, of course. Damn it. “Because I just, there wasn’t anyone… Goddamn it, Mika,” Gabe snarled, frustrated with both of them. “There wasn’t anyone I wanted, okay? If I got too, uhm, desperate for something other than my hand, well, that’s where the adoption trips came in handy, understand? But,” Gabe glanced at his mate, wishing he could pull the truck over and devour his lips. “but, those one-night hook-ups, they just made me feel worse in the

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morning. You’re the first, the only man I would want by my side. And to stand beside.” Shit, Gabe figured he sounded like some corny prepubescent teenager. Well, except for the wanting a man thing, and the one-night-stand issue. Mika leaned his head close, running his tongue over Gabe’s cheek, to his ear, gently tracing its shape. His moist, warm breath had Gabe’s cock pushing hard against the seam of his jeans. “I know exactly what you mean,” Mika’s sexy voice crooned in his ear, “and I love you, too.”

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Chapter Nine

The trip home took considerably less time since they didn’t have to make nearly as many stops. Even so, with Gabe keeping the pedal almost flush to the floor, what would have been a fourteen hour trip driving straight through from Gila was cut down by a few hours and they hit Shasta’s town limits close to nine in the morning. Mika had called Adam earlier, worrying briefly that he might wake the man. He answered on the first ring, awake and as alert as a sleep-deprived man could be. Gabe pulled up to the little hospital that served Shasta and the surrounding towns and slipped the truck into a parking spot. Adam was waiting for them in front of the hospital. Mika blinked at the vet, taking in his finger-mussed hair, the dark circles under his eyes and the white brackets framing his normally full mouth. Then Mika noticed the blood staining Adam’s clothes, and his stomach lurched. “Goddamn, Mika.” Gabe reached for Mika’s hand, looking as shocked as he felt. Mika held his mate’s hand tight, not giving a damn if everyone in town saw it. They reached Adam, and after just a brief hesitation, Gabe let go of Mika’s hand and hugged the vet. Mika tamped down his jealousy. His mate had a tender heart, it was part of what made him so extraordinary. There was no way Gabe would be able to refrain from offering comfort if someone he cared for was hurting. Adam hugged Gabe back, releasing a pent-up sob. Mika placed a hand on Adam’s shoulder; he didn’t know what else he could do right now and hated feeling so useless. “How is Todd?” Gabe asked, stepping back from Adam. “You, ah, look like hell, doc.” Adam’s lips twitched in acknowledgement of his appearance. “He’s still unconscious, but the MRI didn’t show any haemorrhaging in the brain. He’s damned lucky he didn’t end up with a punctured lung and a crushed skull.” Mika noticed the haunted look in Adam’s eyes and wondered just what had happened between him and Todd during the few days they had been gone.

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“As for me looking like shit, I stayed up here and stayed awake so I could keep an eye on Todd. His parents stopped by, and I, uh, well, they seemed suspicious. Of me. Being here.” He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, not to me, but I know it matters to Todd.” “What happened with his folks, Adam?” Mika knew something had, and he figured it wasn’t good, not if, as Gabe had mentioned before, Todd’s parents were abusive, judgmental, self-righteous zealots. Whoa, boy, rein it in, there, he thought. Adam had started to turn to walk back in the hospital but stopped. He faced Mika and Gabe, striding back to them. “What happened? I don’t know for sure what the hell happened with them. They took one look at me then Todd’s momma flipped out and started ranting about hell and damnation. I don’t understand why she would assume anything just from looking at me.” Adam seemed genuinely confused. Mika met Gabe’s gaze. “I guess that he has no idea how clearly the emotions he’s feeling are reflected in his eyes and on his face.” Gabe gave a small nod of agreement as the vet continued to fill them in. “And she started going nuts about you, Gabe. Because apparently being gay is contagious, and Todd caught it from you. She went on some rant about your grandparents, summers, and dirty little boys.” Mika snickered, earning him an elbow to the ribs he figured he should have known was coming. Adam watched the two men with a small smile of his own. “His parents are a lot like mine,” Gabe said. “He’s been too worried about them disowning him to come out of the closet. Personally, I think if someone loves you, they love you whether you are gay or straight, be it parents, friends, or God.” Mika and Adam nodded their agreement as they all walked into the hospital. As silently as possible, they slipped into Todd’s private room, hoping a nurse didn’t come in and bust them breaking the one-visitor-at-a-time rule.

Todd looked like someone had hit him with a truck. As Gabe took in the bandages and stitches, the bruises and tubes poking into his friend, he was blindsided by anger. It was an audible roar in his head, so loud he didn’t hear Mika calling his name until he stepped in front of Gabe as he did so. His gaze focused on Mika’s finally before he peered over his shoulder at Adam, who was staring at him slack jawed.

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“Gabe, we’ll find out who did this, I swear. You need to calm down, okay?” Mika’s light brown eyes burned into Gabe’s green ones. “I can feel your anger, and it’s burning and pushing at me. My wolf, it wants out to protect and to stop whatever it is that is upsetting my mate. Do you understand?” Taking a few calming breaths, Gabe nodded. He understood, and couldn’t afford to let his emotions force Mika to shift. That would be disastrous. They walked over to the side of the hospital bed, both stunned by the extent of Todd’s injuries. Mika put his arm around Gabe as tears slipped from his eyes. Leaning down, Gabe touched his fingers to his friend’s arm. “You need to wake up, buddy. I know you’ve got to be hurting like hell, even if they have you all doped up. We’re going to find whoever did this, Todd.” Mika rubbed Gabe’s back as they gazed at the purple, swollen knot on Todd’s jaw. “The jaw fracture must not be too severe, thank God, because his jaw isn’t wired shut or whatever it is they do on those medical shows on TV.” Gabe glanced at Adam for confirmation. Nodding, the veterinarian lightly stroked Todd’s cheek. “It is a mild fracture. Gonna hurt like hell, and the swelling will take days, maybe even weeks, to go down. He’s very lucky though. It could have been much, much worse.” “Did the sheriff come by to… Well, I reckon he couldn’t get a statement, at least not from Todd.” Gabe looked at Todd’s hands. Nope, not broken, though there were bruises on the man’s forearms, probably defensive wounds. If Todd couldn’t speak once he came to, he should at least be able to write. He damned well better come to. Adam looked angry all over again. “Oh, yeah, fucking batshit insane asshole finally came by about an hour ago. Said he’d interview Todd when he could talk, and that Todd shouldn’t be surprised by what happened. You know, because he was hanging out with those kinds of people. A group which he now includes me in, not that I give a shit. He also said he didn’t find any hint of who did this, you know, at the scene. Problem is, I just don’t know how hard Kaufman looked.” The disgust in Adam’s voice was so thick, Gabe was surprised the vet didn’t choke on it. Not that he blamed the man, not one bit. Gabe stared at Todd, as though he could will him to wake up. Running his fingers through his hair in frustration, he glanced over and saw Mika watching him with a worried

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frown. Damn it, Gabe felt like he was going to burst with the anger and worry that was growing in him, and that wasn’t helping his mate any, either. “We better step back out before one of the nurses comes in and raises a ruckus,” Mika suggested, steering Gabe to the door with a hand on his elbow. The three of them left Todd’s room and went to the waiting room. Adam collapsed into one of the hard plastic chairs, looking ready to drop himself. “Adam, why don’t you go home and shower, get some rest? We can sit up here for a while.” Gabriel was afraid that Adam was fast reaching his breaking point, which wouldn’t do any of them any good. When Adam started to protest, Mika cut him off. “No, Adam, Gabe is right. You need to take care of yourself or you aren’t going to be much good to Todd. Why don’t you let me give you a ride home, and after you’ve rested, you can call us and one of us will pick you back up?” Grumbling and stumbling, Adam stood. “You’re right, yeah. Okay. Just for a few hours, though, okay? I have to get Becky to reschedule all my appointments today and I did have my vet tech meet me here last night and take Iko to the clinic kennels. Y’all can get him after I get back, I guess.” Gabe would have loved to be able to get Iko sooner, but they couldn’t very well keep him with them at the hospital so he’d just have to wait. He watched as Mika and Adam walked out the door, wondering what level of hell was opening up that involved his friend getting beaten with a pipe. As though he sensed his mate’s worries, Mika turned his head and smiled at Gabe over his shoulder. “We’ll handle this, babe, together; together and with our friends.” The thought brought a small measure of peace to Gabe, and he relaxed as best he could in the plastic chair, waiting, which was all he could do for now.

**** Frustrated by their failure to find anything to identify who had attacked Todd, Mika and Gabe walked back to the house. After they’d returned home, Mika had tried to pick up a scent that didn’t belong—and he did. Many, in fact, as there had been an ambulance and rescue crew, the sheriff and one of his deputies, on the scene less than twenty-four hours ago.

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Mika wanted to howl with frustration, but figured that wouldn’t be a wise action to take. Anyone within hearing distance would think there was a wolf loose. It was for this same reason he couldn’t shift into wolf form and try to track down a scent, not in daylight. Whoever had attacked Todd could be watching somewhere. He’d have to wait until dark to shift. Iko yipped from inside the house, letting them know he needed out. Gabe opened the door, Mika right behind him as they went to free the puppy from his kennel box. “I’ll take him out and stay with him if you want to relax for a bit,” Gabe offered. “No way am I leaving the little guy out there alone until we catch who did this.” “I think I’ll shower real quick, then run you a bath, if you’d like?” Mika felt a rush of lust surge through his body, streaking straight to his cock. A quick glance at Gabe had Mika’s length throbbing painfully; he could almost feel Gabe’s stare, the bulge in his jeans having caught his mate’s attention. Mika tipped his head down and watched Gabe’s cock grow hard as he nodded in agreement. “Good. So, shower, bath…and then, I am going to bend you over and eat your tight ass before I fuck you senseless. Sounds like a plan.” With a decisive nod, Mika grabbed Gabe’s ass and pulled him close, grinding their cocks together. Moaning, he brought his lips down and nipped Gabe’s neck before releasing his mate and heading inside.

Gabe brought a hand up to his thundering heart. Holy shit. He glanced at Iko. “Please, buddy, hurry up and do your business before I bust.” Iko looked at him, tongue lolling out of his mouth. The pup proceeded to sniff every square inch of the back yard before getting down to business. Gabe was ready to sing a chorus of hallelujahs by the time he finally made it to the bathroom. He peeked in the doorway and saw Mika bent over the tub, checking the water temperature while wearing nothing but a towel. Letting out a low and, in his opinion, definitely appropriate, wolf whistle, Gabriel strode over and ran his hands over the gorgeous ass sticking up in the air. Mika swatted his hands away. “Nuh uh, mate.” He grinned. “I’ve got a plan. Strip.” He gave Gabe an exaggerated leer, winking as he waited for compliance.

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Alrighty, then. Gabe practically tore his clothes off. Damned if Mika in dominant mode didn’t set his heart—and prick—to pounding. Stepping into the bath, Gabe almost groaned with pleasure. The water felt so good, and it was hot enough he knew his skin would have a pink glow to it in no time. Which was exactly what he figured Mika wanted—to see Gabe’s ass with a pretty rose glow to it as he ran his tongue between Gabe’s spread cheeks. Uh oh, if he didn’t stop thinking about it, Gabe knew he was going to come. Gabe lay back and relaxed as much as he could while Mika began washing his body. He expected to be fondled and stroked, but Mika kept his ministrations as brief and efficient as possible. It was frustrating as hell, but the heat pooling in Gabe’s belly was reaching an intensity that was nearly orgasmic. Anticipation was a blessing and a bitch. Mika finished rinsing out Gabe’s hair and gave it a tug. “Time to get out, babe, before the water cools.” He stepped back and waited for Gabe to get out, holding a towel in his hands. Gabe felt silly at first, letting Mika dry the moisture from his hair and skin, but that feeling was soon chased away as the friction from the towel fed sparks of fire straight to his balls. He didn’t know how much more of this he could take. Gabe reached for Mika, needing more, almost ready to beg if that’s what it took. “Nuh uh, mate,” he said again, pinning Gabe’s wrists together in front of him, which pissed Gabe off and turned him on at the same time. He didn’t like the ‘nuh uh’ at all, but being restrained… That was just fucking scorching. Mika walked, forcing Gabe to move along with him towards the bed, hoping he wouldn’t trip over his own feet on the way. “I’ve got you.” He knew that Mika meant it. Gabe closed his eyes and trusted his mate, letting him lead without question. When the backs of his knees hit the mattress, Gabe opened his eyes. Mika’s brown eyes were molten with need. God, Gabe didn’t think he had ever seen anything as sexy as that look. Releasing his hands, Mika turned Gabe to the bed. “In the middle, on your knees, head down and ass up.” Gabe thought about trying to make the move into a sensuous act, but he was wound so tight he just dove into position, planting his head down and his ass up as he’d been ordered

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to do. Mika growled low in his chest as Gabe reached back and parted his cheeks, exposing his puckered entry. “Fuck, babe, you’re killing me with that tight ass all heated and pink, spread out just waiting for my tongue.” Gabe shivered as Mika knelt on the bed and ran a fingertip down his crease, skimming over his hole down to his balls. He felt a sharp bite on one cheek, then the other. Mika clamped his mouth down over the first nip, sucking until Gabe was sure the man brought up a mark. Turning his head, Mika did the same to the other cheek. “Mine,” he growled, and Gabe grunted an assent, not trusting his voice to do more than squeak. Mika’s tongue laved along the trail his finger had just travelled, all the way down to the heavy sac hanging between his thighs. Gabe groaned when Mika sucked one of the spheres into his mouth, rolling it with his tongue. Releasing it, he treated the other sphere to the same loving before running his tongue back up to the little knotted muscle waiting to be tasted. Mika pushed Gabe’s hands away and spread his mate open himself, using his thumbs to stretch the hole between them. Gabe felt a blush stealing because he could feel Mika staring. He felt vulnerable and safe at the same time, and the combination of the two emotions made his heart beat almost frantically. When Mika lowered his head, Gabriel could feel his lover running his nose the length of the crease before drawing in a deep breath. A sweep of lips against Gabe’s anus had him gasping; the press of Mika’s flattened tongue over his puckered opening made Gabe pant. Frustration and need built inside him—he needed more. Gabe moaned and pushed back against Mika’s face. If that man didn’t tongue fuck him soon, Gabe was going to have to hurt him. He felt the caress of breath between his spread cheeks from Mika’s chuckle and pushed back harder. “Damn it, quit teasing me!” Gabriel was past the point of asking or begging; demanding seemed to be the only tone he could manage. Mika stiffened his tongue and stabbed in as deep as he could, swirling the slick muscle around Gabe’s ass, scraping his teeth against the outer skin. “Fuck! Fuck, Mika! Ahh…” Gabe felt his cock pulse and his balls draw tight as that tongue thrust in and out, fucking him in hard, short strokes. He couldn’t hold back. The teeth

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nipping his hole had him grabbing his dick and stroking, screaming as his muscles clamped down and his seed shot out through his fingers. Mika pulled his tongue out and laved Gabe’s hole, drawing out his pleasure. “Shit, Gabe, if you had any idea, if you could see how fucking tempting you are, all spread and that tight little hole gleaming from my mouth.” Mika groaned, a sound that never failed to turn Gabriel on. “In me, Mika, please.” Gabe’s cock hadn’t softened from his orgasm and was still pushing against his belly. He closed his eyes as he waited for the fucking to come. There was a snap of the lube cap opening then a gurgling noise as Mika squeezed the tube. Gabe heard the cap snap shut, heard a thud as Mika tossed the lube aside. The sound of skin on skin as Mika coated his cock sent goose bumps racing over Gabe’s body. Mika spread Gabe as wide as he possibly could as he lined his dick up to the salivaslicked entry. Gabe’s voice broke and he screamed again as Mika thrust hard, burying himself to the hilt in Gabe’s ass. Fuck, he loved it when Mika rammed his way home, filling him so full that nothing existed other than Mika’s cock inside him. Mika pulled back until just the tip of his prick was still inside, then slammed back in, and Gabe knew they’d both have bruises from the collision of hips and ass. The idea just made him hornier, made him slide a hand down between his thighs until… ”Yes! Right there!” Mika’s thought, his demand for pleasure spurred Gabe on. He cupped Mika’s balls in his hand, tugging, wringing a harsh cry from his lover and shattering his control. Mika growled and dug his nails into Gabe’s hips. The stinging sensation of his skin being pierced under Mika’s grip thrilled Gabe, and he knew there would be little crescents left behind. That bit of knowledge nearly pushed Gabe over the edge as Mika jerked Gabe to meet his erratic thrusts. Uncivilised, hard and deep, that was how Gabe was being fucked; he knew Mika was pounding into him with everything he had. Gabe felt drops of moisture, sweat dripping from Mika, landing on his back between jarring thrusts. Mika leant down to backtrack its trail with his tongue, stopping at the juncture of Gabe’s neck and shoulder. Mika grabbed Gabe’s dick at the same time he sank his teeth into that sweet spot, clamping down hard, drawing blood, Gabe knew as a raspy groan left his throat. Pain and pleasure exploded inside him from the bite, shooting to his prick and forcing his balls to

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empty out in great white bursts. His muscles clamped down hard on Mika’s cock, milking him tightly as hot spurts of semen erupted inside him. Mika shuddered several times, his orgasm long and wrenching. Gabe collapsed on his belly, legs shooting out from under him, with Mika still on top, sucking the bite mark as though to sooth away the pain. Gabe wanted to tell him it was okay, that it didn’t hurt—well, it did but it didn’t, he wasn’t sure how to explain it—but gave up trying to get his brain to work. Mika withdrew his cock and wrapped Gabe in his arms, rolling to his side and pulling him close. Mika started to speak but paused, mouth hanging open as Gabe shot him an angry glare. “So help me, Mika, if you fucking apologise, I will beat your ass,” Gabe snarled. “You are getting into the bad habit of giving me what I want and then feeling guilty for it. I am not putting up with that shit, you understand?” Mika snapped his mouth shut in a way Gabe found very gratifying. The gratification vanished as Mika decided to speak anyway. “Okay babe, I’m sorry…uumph—” Gabe knew he’d caught Mika good; his lover hadn’t been prepared for the elbow that caught him in the ribs this time. Gabe knew he could get…touchy, but damned if it didn’t seem to be the only way to get through to Mika sometimes. Besides, if Mika could bite him, Gabe figured he could throw an elbow. Or pinch the bejeezus out of his lover. “I was only going to say,” Mika spoke slowly, as though trying to calm an agitated animal, “that I was sorry—” he caught Gabe’s elbow before it could dent his ribs again, narrowing his eyes in warning— “for treating you like you didn’t know what you wanted, I swear.” Gabe felt only slightly mollified, but he did quit trying to incapacitate Mika with the elbow from hell. “Well,” he grumped at Mika, “as long as you finally got it through your head that whatever happens when we are fucking, that is what I want, and I am smart enough to know the difference between what I want and what I don’t want.” He smiled beatifically, watching as Mika rubbed his ribs and nodded. “Good, glad we’re clear on that. Now, can we take a nap before it gets dark and you go all wolfie on me?” Laughing, Mika rolled Gabe onto his back. “Let me get a cloth and clean us up.” Mika wiggled his eyebrows at Gabe. “Then a short nap to recuperate—maybe for another round.”

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“Sounds like an excellent plan,” Gabe murmured, already feeling sleep creeping over him. He winked at Mika, or thought he did, then let himself drift off.

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Chapter Ten

“Todd’s doing better, his vital signs are stable, but he still hasn’t regained consciousness. The doctor thinks he could wake up at any time, as his EEG readings show the expected level of brain activity. And the fucking batshit insane asshole still hasn’t come by to interview him about what happened, hasn’t even checked to see if Todd has regained consciousness. I haven’t heard anything from him.” Adam’s voice was rough with frustration over the phone. Gabe couldn’t help but think that the fact the sheriff hadn’t come back to interview either man was telling in itself. What he couldn’t understand was what would have pushed the man, after all this time, into doing something like this. It just didn’t make any sense, but he and Mika would find Kaufman tomorrow and see if they could learn anything. Sighing in frustration, Gabe knew he would have to pry where he didn’t really want to. Well, maybe he wanted to, but still. It made him feel like he was poking his nose where it didn’t belong. Normally, that would be the case, but since there were extreme extenuating circumstances… “Adam, did, uh—” God, this was uncomfortable— “Uh, did something happen between, you know, you two? Something Kaufman might have objected to?” Gabe squeezed his eyes shut when the vet sucked in a startled breath. There was a full minute of silence while he waited for Adam to speak. “I know why you’re asking that, Gabe, and if things were different, I would tell you to mind your own fucking business. I’m still not sure that’s not the best thing to do” It sure sounded like he had pissed off Adam regardless of how ‘things’ were. Shit. “Look, Adam, I really don’t want to pry—” mostly, anyway—, “but if this was Kaufman, I would think something had to set him off. He’s never gone that insane in all these years, and it couldn’t have been something Mika or I did because we were gone. I’m sorry to have to ask, and sorrier still to push you to answer, but we really need to know what happened in case there’s some tie-in, so we can figure this out.”

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Adam’s resigned sigh made Gabe feel like shit, but he couldn’t see any help for it. Apparently the vet reached the same conclusion. “I’m sorry, Gabe, I know you’re right. It’s just, well, I’ve never been the type to discuss my personal life.” Gabe knew that for a fact, since he had wondered whether or not Adam was gay, whether the man even had a personal life, for that matter. “I understand, Adam. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t necessary.” “I know. I can do whatever I have to if it will help nail the son of a bitch who did this to Todd.” Another sigh seeped through to Gabe’s ear before Adam continued. “So, ah. Well, I knew Todd was, you know, interested.” A bitter blast of laughter came through the phone. “God, that sounds so fucking juvenile!” Gabe waited, because really, he wasn’t dumb enough to think the vet truly wanted confirmation of that statement. “All right. Short and sweet—I’ve been attracted to Todd for a long time, and knew it was mutual. The problem is, was, maybe still is, I don’t fucking know. The problem being that he seemed determined to stay in the closet. So I didn’t let him know how I felt, not when I had seen him…seen him out on dates. You know, with women.” Mika came in the room, saw the phone and slid close to Gabe so he could hear the conversation. “It’s Adam, right?” Gabriel nodded absently, listening to the vet. “I won’t be a secret, Gabe. I can’t. It goes against my personal beliefs. As long as Todd was keeping that door shut… Anyway, I went by your place the morning Todd was attacked. Uh, I told him that I needed to check on a couple of the dogs, but, you know, I went because I couldn’t not go. Does that make sense?” Oh yeah, Gabe understood finding someone irresistible. He grunted an assent and reached over to grab one of Mika’s denim clad ass cheeks. Mmm, nice. “We, uh, no, I confronted him, I guess, trying to make him—to get him to acknowledge what was between us, is between us. He wanted me to give us a shot, but keep it quiet, and I wanted him to give us a shot, because I think he’s just…he’s it for me. But we both wanted it our way. The arguing got pretty loud, then…” Adam hesitated.

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Gabe figured he could help him out. Maybe. “Then you went from fighting to fucking, so to speak?” Whoops. He really needed to work on his tact. Mika gave him a startled glance and tugged his hair in reproach. Adam let out a strangled laugh. “No, no not exactly. I mean, it didn’t get that far. We didn’t, well, we didn’t fuck. Nothing more than kissing and groping, sadly. I realised what I was doing and stopped. Told Todd to call me when he decided to be honest with himself, with everyone, and when he felt that I was worth doing that for. Then I left in a blur of self-righteous indignation. Fuck.” “Hey, Adam, I understand not wanting to have to pretend. I also understand Todd’s fears, which are, as you saw from his parents’ reactions, pretty well founded. I don’t know who was right or wrong, all I can tell you is that if you love someone, you find a way to make it work.” Gabe squeezed Mika’s ass hard, making his prick perk right up. He was feeling pretty good about this advice thing. “So, after you left, did you see or hear from Todd the rest of the day?” “No, the next time I saw him, he was laying in a pool of blood.” Adam’s voice was husky with pain. “I decided to stop by and either compromise or make him agree to do things my way. Probably more the latter. When I got out of my truck, the dogs were barking like crazy, so I went around to the kennels. And he was just laying there, looking so damn broken, Gabe.” This time, Adam didn’t even try to hold back the sob. Mika stiffened beside Gabe. “Babe, ask him why he called from Todd’s phone. Why not his own? Where was Todd’s phone?” Shit. They had forgotten about Todd’s cell phone. “Adam, Mika wants to know why you used Todd’s cell phone, and where you found his phone.” Gabe could imagine the wheels spinning in the vet’s head, realising the answer to their questions could have been in that phone all along. Adam let loose with a few creative curse words before answering. “I left my phone in the truck, charging. The battery had died earlier. When I found Todd, his phone was laying about ten feet away from him, flipped open. I grabbed it without thinking and started calling EMS. You think there might be something useful on there?” “Where’s the phone now?” Mika was already grabbing truck keys as Gabe asked that question, gesturing for Gabe to hurry the call up. “It’s here, in my pocket. Let me just—shit! It’s dead. I don’t have the charger for it.”

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“Tell him we’re coming to get the phone. We’ll stop at the store and grab a charger. We need to check Todd’s calls and messages. Kaufman should have checked the call list and texts on that phone.” Gabe smacked himself on the forehead. He couldn’t believe they hadn’t thought about checking Todd’s phone. He was aware of Mika listening as his message was relayed to Adam. Gabe watched Mika in return as he gathered up dog toys and picked up Iko to kennel him. As soon as Gabe was finished with the call, they were ready to head out. The drive to the hospital seemed endless to Gabe. He and Mika discussed the possible significance of the phone, and the fact Sheriff Kaufman either hadn’t thought to confiscate it or hadn’t cared to. Neither option bode well for the man’s innocence. “There is a good chance the man is just an inept ass,” Gabe pointed out, trying to make sure they covered all angles. “I’d say that’s a given whatever the case is,” Mika grumbled. “He either did this and didn’t have the brains to cover his ass, or he didn’t do it and didn’t have the brains—or the desire, whichever—to gather all the evidence. The man is a fool.” No arguing there. Gabe tried to remember if there had ever been a similar violent crime in Shasta, something that might be related, or at least something that would have provided the sheriff with the experience needed for handling such a case. Nothing came to mind. Other than the usual domestic disputes, kids intent on causing trouble, and the occasional suicide, not much happened in the little town. And the suicide probably shouldn’t count, as there was only one Gabe could recall. So maybe the sheriff was just an inexperienced fool. Adam was waiting in front of the hospital when they pulled up. He walked over to the truck and handed the dead phone in through the window to Mika. Gabe was worried there might be some awkwardness after their phone conversation, but Adam seemed to have gotten over his anger. He did, however, look like hell. The man needed some rest. No, he needed Todd to wake up and be okay. That would be what it took to get that defeated look off the vet’s face. “Any change with Todd?” Gabe was pretty sure of the answer even before he got it. “No.” Adam’s frustration was palpable. “I wonder if, well, maybe it’s partially psychologically induced? From the trauma of the attack?” “Could be,” Mika mused. “It’s for damn sure the attack was traumatic.” Adam and Gabe nodded.

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“I just don’t know what to do to help him, encourage him to wake up.” Mika’s grin was wicked. “Well, you could go the fairy tale route and try kissing sleeping beauty awake, but his jaw may be a problem.” And Gabe thought, judging by the blush stealing over the vet’s cheeks, a peck on the lips hadn’t been successful in waking Todd. “So maybe you should try talking to him—about the two of you, what you want, what he wants, how to make it work. He has to be hearing what’s going on, I truly believe that.” Adam looked a little flustered, so Gabe decided to toss another topic out for him. “Or, if you really want to see if he can hear, tell him what you’re gonna do together when he gets better. Or what you will do for him,” he wiggled his brow at Adam, “if he will wake up soon.” The poor vet went nine shades of red, but his eyes showed definite interest in that plan. Gabe grinned at Adam, thinking about the things Mika had told him he was going to do earlier—and he certainly had followed through. “Oh, yeah, Adam, that whole ‘let me tell you what I’m going to do to you’ thing, yeah, if there is any way he can respond to that…if he can, he most definitely will.” Laughing, Adam shook his head at his two friends. “I, ah, see your point, guys. Damn. Okay, well, I’d better…” He pointed his thumb back over his shoulder at the hospital, then headed back in. “Damn, Mika, I think Adam was in a bit of a hurry to get back to Todd. He sure made hauling ass with a casual ‘tude look easy!” Gabe was laughing-- until Mika grabbed his hand and put it over his cock as he thrust his hips. “I know just how the man feels, babe.”

**** Mika noticed the looks they were getting in the store. For the most part, it was curiosity, but there were a few people who were glaring with expressions of distaste. He didn’t let it bother him. As long as his mate was safe, nothing anyone thought of them mattered. Gabe seemed indifferent to the looks, determined to search through the cell phone charger display until he found a car charger preferably, but a wall charger would do. Mika couldn’t help but grin at the intense look of concentration his mate wore as he dug through the plastic

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packages. The man was just too cute, biting his lower lip like that. Finally, Gabe let out a triumphant sound and stood up, waving the package in the air. “Got it! Let’s…” Gabe’s voice trailed off. Mika knew damn well he was ogling his mate like he wanted to bend him over the display and fuck right in the store. He couldn’t help but notice his lover’s cock, swollen and pressing hard against his jeans. Double damn. Gabe’s cock wanted to play, too. “We should, um, pay for these and go. Now.” Gabe spun around and dashed to the cashier in the electronics department. The clerk gave him a startled look until he noticed Mika coming up behind him. Mika would have laughed at the poor guy’s expression, all round-eyed and flabbergasted. Yup, that was the perfect word, flabbergasted. The clerk stuttered and jerked his head down to look at the chargers and scan them. “Will…will that be, uh, all for you?” The guy looked almost terrified. Mika wanted to ask him if he thought, because they were gay, they wanted to fuck any guy. As if being gay meant you couldn’t control yourself sexually. Right. The clerk was flat-out butt ugly; neither he nor Gabe would have fucked him on a bad day, a bet, a dare… The list of things he wouldn’t have fucked the clerk for was infinite. Gabe glanced over his shoulder and shot him a wink, the intention of which, Mika was sure, was to addle the clerk even more. “I can assure you, that is certainly all for me,” Gabe finally answered. The clerk turned bright red, unsure if he had been insulted or not. He finished up the sale and flopped their bag on the counter, skittering off to help—well, probably to escape, Mika mused. He grinned as they left the store. “That was a little mean, mate. You got that poor guy all flustered.” Gabe rolled his eyes. “That idiot was flustered before I ever spoke to him. And ignorant, too. I have no doubt he equates being gay with being a sexual deviant who humps any male around, willing or not.” It was clear to see that such an attitude just irritated Mika’s mate to no end. None of the gay men Mika knew were any more or less promiscuous than a heterosexual. It was strength of character, not sexual orientation, that made someone faithful or not. “I don’t know, babe,” Mika breathed into Gabe’s ear. “Our fucking can get kind of deviant, don’t you think?” Just thinking about it had Mika’s balls tightening painfully as he reached for the truck door.

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Gabe chuckled as he got in the truck. “Yeah, but our deviant fucking is just between us, and it damn well better stay there.” “Oh, mate, it will most definitely stay between us,” Mika purred, starting the truck and putting it in gear. “Between us, in you, in me…mmm.” He tossed a closed pocketknife to Gabe, who just stared dazedly at his lap. The scent of Gabe’s arousal was quickly filling the truck. Knowing that Gabe wanted him so badly made Mika want to free his prick right there in the parking lot and let Gabe have his way with it. The high-pitched squeal of a kid walking by in the parking lot brought Mika back to his senses. “Babe.” Mika snapped his fingers a couple of times, waving his hand in front of Gabe’s face. Gabe jolted, presumably pulling his mind out of the gutter. “Yeah, okay. Where’s a knife?” Mika burst out laughing, pointing by Gabe’s hip, stopping when his mate grabbed the knife and opened the blade up, glaring. Not that he thought Gabe would poke him with that thing, but still. No use provoking the man further. “Why do they make these packages such a pain in the ass to open?” Gabe muttered. “I just know some sadistic bastard designed the packages with every intention of frustrating the shit out of people. I’ll bet he or she is rolling in the big bucks and laughing their butt off.” Stifling a laugh, Mika sat back and enjoyed his mate, watching him from his peripheral vision. Gabe grunted as he managed to jerk the plastic open, dropping the knife into the floorboard as he did so. “Careful, babe, you don’t want to poke yourself with that knife, now.” Mika meant to only express concern, but the look on his mate’s face told him he’d better protect his ribs. “Uhg.” Damn, he wasn’t quite fast enough. “I just didn’t want you to get hurt, Gabriel, that’s all. It would kill me for you to get hurt.” And Mika was seriously thinking he might need to buy himself some body armour at this rate. Gabe closed his eyes, guilt playing over his features. “I’m sorry, Mika. I’m not even going to make any excuses.” Mika pulled him in for a kiss, keeping it brief so they didn’t end up in a ditch. “It’s okay, things have been bitch-inducing the past few days. Got it plugged in?” Gabe nodded, giving the phone a few seconds before turning it on. “What do you want me to check first? Calls or texts?”

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“Calls, incoming and outgoing. We want to see who he may have talked to after he and Adam argued. Then texts.” “Okay. Let’s see…” Gabe scrolled through the incoming call list. “I only see two numbers here after Adam left. One is Kaufman’s, the other is listed as ‘Folks’, so I’m guessing that would be his parents. Each call was brief, under a minute.” Mika grunted, trying to figure out if the calls were related or not. “What’s in his outgoing call list?” Gabe punched a few buttons, pulling up the list. “Okay, there are calls to…huh. He called Kaufman and his parents before their call time on the incoming list. So he called them first, they called back. But the calls Todd made were several minutes longer than his received calls.” Gabe placed a hand on his stomach and stilled as he looked at Mika. “You know what I think, Mika?” Mika took his eyes off the road long enough to meet his mate’s gaze. “Probably something along the lines as I am. What do you think?” Gabe stared out the windshield, rubbing his stomach as he spoke. “I think maybe Todd wanted Adam enough to do what he asked. Maybe he called his parents, called Kaufman, told them. It would have been easier on the phone, and if he acted on impulse…” “Yeah, I think maybe something happened along those lines, too. Can you check his texts?” Mika had a feeling about Todd’s phone; he couldn’t help but think there was information on it that would help them find out who had assaulted Todd. Whether it was desperation or inspiration, he wasn’t sure. Gabe opened up the messaging box. “Nothing new in here, just some messages between him and Adam, talking about the dogs and stuff.” He pressed the back button. “Huhn. Let’s see what his draft sa—oh.” Gabe lowered the phone to his lap. “What is it, Gabe? Are you okay?” His mate looked flushed, which just piqued Mika’s interest even more. That must be some message. Gabe cleared his throat. “Yeah. It was just a draft of what…fuck. Yeah, what he wanted to do with Adam. Kind of more than I needed to know.” Mika snatched the phone up, trying to read and drive at the same time. Oh. Well, holy shit. He hadn’t known Todd had it in him—though if the man had his way about it, he

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would have had a certain part of Adam in him days ago, according to the date on the draft. He set the phone on the seat and looked at Gabe. “After reading that, I have to say that I hope Adam knows what he’s getting into.” Mika laughed at the double entendre. Gabe grinned, linking his hand with his lover’s. “I think Adam knows exactly what he’s getting into, and he will love every minute of it. Just like you will as soon as we get home.” His hand slid away, over Mika’s hip and straight to his prick. Mika stepped on the gas. “Oh yeah? You mean I’ll know what I’m getting into, or I’ll love every minute of it?” “Exactly, caveman,” Gabe laughed as Mika floored the pedal. “I think you and I are both up for a bit of deviance, don’t you?” They made it home in record time and found a very satisfying way to pass the remaining daylight hours.

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Chapter Eleven

Gabe stepped out onto the back porch behind Mika. They had left the light off, wanting as much cover as possible for when Mika would be prowling around in his wolf form. Behind the barn, Mika stripped out of his sweats and handed them to Gabe. “Damn, caveman, you better change fast before I decide to take advantage of you.” Gabe couldn’t pull his gaze away from the thick cock in front of him, reaching out to stroke it as it started to lengthen and rise. Mika groaned, clasping his mate’s hand. “If you touch me, I am going to fuck you, and we need to do this, to see if I can find anything out in wolf form.” Mika didn’t sound particularly happy about having to say no, which made Gabe feel a little better. Besides, he knew the man was right, but he was just so fucking hot that sometimes Gabe’s synapses misfired. He pulled his hand back and watched as Mika dropped to all fours on the ground, shifting as he did so. It looked painful, bones popping, shrinking and elongating as needed, but Mika had told him it wasn’t. Still, it didn’t look like something Gabe wanted to experience. Add to it the whole bite-the-wanker thing and, nope, definitely not in any hurry there. Fully changed, Mika loped over to his mate and licked his hand. “Ready?” “Yeah.” Gabe glanced at the clothes in his hand. “I should probably stash these somewhere you can change with some privacy—behind the barn, would that work?” Mika dipped his head in agreement and Gabe jogged around the barn. A dense patch of brush that he’d been meaning to dig up looked like a good enough spot to do a decent job of hiding Mika’s clothes, and the man—or wolf—himself, if necessary. That task complete, Gabe hurried back to his mate. “Okay, let’s get this done.” Gabe followed behind Mika, watching the graceful way he moved. He was every bit as gorgeous in wolf form as he was in human form, sleekly muscled and quietly confident. With his head down low, scenting the ground, he exuded a feeling of barely restrained aggression that Gabe found incredibly sexy. That weirded him out a little, looking at his wolf and thinking of him as sexy. Sheesh, deviant indeed. Gabe nearly

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ploughed into Mika when he stopped suddenly, ears cocked and head raised. He glanced back at Gabe, then trotted to the barn entrance. The dogs didn’t break into a barking frenzy as Gabe had feared they would. Instead, they whimpered as though confused by the combined scent of Mika and wolf. They didn’t cower, either, though most of them had rolled to their backs in a show of submission. Mika zeroed in on the spot where Todd had been found and spent minutes tracing and scenting, following one trail this way and another off in a different direction. Gabe watched in fascination as his lover worked, separating each scent until he was ready to move to the yard. “Anything, Mika?” Gabe couldn’t stand to wait any longer, he had to ask. Patience was a virtue, sure, just not one of his. “I’m not sure, babe. I caught several scents, need to figure out whose is whose.” Gabe rolled his eyes and stifled a groan. Well, that wasn’t confusing at all. “Uh, Mika? What exactly do you mean”? Mika froze, and Gabe followed suit. “Someone’s coming, Gabriel.” Gabe listened, barely able to hear the sound of an engine coming down the road. “I hear it. I’m going to slip around front, you head to the shrubs at the side, okay?” The engine had slowed, as though the vehicle was coming to a stop. Gabe edged around the house, darting to a small copse of trees in the front yard. Peering to his left, the direction the sound came from, he realised two things. First, there were no headlights; second, the vehicle had stopped with the engine shut off. Someone was trying to sneak in, driving without their lights on and pulling off the road before reaching Gabe’s drive. That can’t be good. He looked for Mika, hoping he had hidden well. Must have, because Gabe sure couldn’t see him. “Mika?” To your left, in the brush by the road. The scent, it matches one of the ones I picked up in the barn. I found the ones I thought belonged to EMS workers, the sheriff, his deputy—but there was one that smelt somewhat familiar, I just don’t know why. That is who I am scenting now. Stay hidden, please, Gabriel. Right, because he was going to let Mika face all the danger alone because he was a wolf. That hadn’t protected Mika before. “For now, caveman, but there is no way I will hang back and risk you getting hurt. Together, remember?” Gabe thought he might have heard a low rumbling

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growl from the bushes but couldn’t be sure. He would have growled right back, except for the fact he heard someone moving through the brush, coming towards the house from the side. It was fully dark, and since they had decided it was best not to have any outdoor lights on to help disguise Mika, Gabe couldn’t see who the dark shape was that came out of the brush. He could, however, see the moonlight glinting off something metallic in the figure’s hand. Shit. “Mika! What’s in his hand? Where are you?” Gabe thought he saw a black shadow move behind the figure. “Pipe. I’m guessing this guy isn’t very creative in his murder attempts. And I am right behind him.” Mika had just stepped out from his hiding place when the man, perhaps having sensed that he was watched, spun around. He yelped when he saw the wolf dogging his tracks, raising the pipe to strike. “Spawn of Satan! Black demon!” The pipe swung down, missing Mika as he leapt back, growling and flattening his ears. Gabe jumped out from the tree he was behind, yelling “No!” as he rushed the man, who spun in a complete circle, swinging the pipe around in an arch. Gabe ducked fast, feeling the displaced air from the force of the swing swoosh across the back of his head. The man yelled and brought the pipe up again—but this time he was swinging at the wolf that was sinking his fangs into his calf. Gabe flung himself at the man, wrapping his arms around him and tackling the intruder to the ground.

Mika let go of the leg he’d clamped his teeth around and narrowly missed having his head bashed with the heavy pipe. As soon as he saw Gabe performing a flying tackle, he shifted to human form, certain the pipe-wielding psycho was going to be too busy hitting the ground under hundred and eighty pounds of prime male flesh to notice. Not caring that he was buck naked, Mika charged forward, bending to jerk the pipe out of the downed man’s grasp, hearing Gabe’s startled gasp as he did so. “Fuck! You sick, twisted bastard!” Gabe straddled the man’s chest, pinning his arms with his knees.

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Mika looked at the man and realised why the scent had seemed somewhat familiar. This had to be Todd’s father, had to be. The resemblance was striking, though Todd had never had the insane glint in his eye like this man did. The man bucked, almost dislodging Gabe. Mika moved in to strike, but his mate handled the situation by drawing back his fist and slamming it into the thrashing man’s jaw. The result was almost instantaneous as the thrashing stopped and the man’s eyes rolled back and shut. Mika grinned as Gabe shook out his hand. “Very impressive, babe. You might have broken his jaw, which would be fair.” Gabe grunted. “Hurt like a bitch, though. More likely, I broke my hand or something.” “Let me see it, Gabriel.” Mika knelt down, taking his mate’s bruised hand in his own. The knuckles were scraped raw, and he thought it might have started swelling already but wasn’t sure. “Huh. Let me get my sweats and call this in, get someone up here to arrest this nutbag, then we will get you to the hospital. We can fill Adam in while we’re there.” Mika leaned in to kiss his mate, savouring the sweet, heated taste of him. He stood and jogged back behind the barn, pulling his sweats on quickly and digging his phone out of the pocket. Mika had just started to dial nine-one-one when he heard the roar of an engine, sirens blaring and saw the lights flashing as Sheriff Kaufman’s patrol car came racing down the road. He went ahead and placed the call as he ran over to his mate. There was no way he felt he could trust the sheriff to do his job, better to make sure this became an official visit. Mika finished up the call just as the sheriff pulled into the drive and jumped out of his car with one hand on his weapon. “What the fuck is going on here?” Kaufman demanded, stomping over to Mika and Gabe, who still straddled Todd’s father. “What the fuck does it look like?” Gabe snarled, answering before Mika could. Damn, who was the caveman now? His mate sounded like he was ready to break the sheriff’s jaw, too, at the slightest provocation. Kaufman spread his legs and puffed out his chest in a belligerent stance, body language stating that he was ready to ratchet up the testosterone, but Mika wasn’t having it. He stepped around Gabe and the unconscious man, placing himself in the sheriff’s face.

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“What are you doing here, Kaufman? I hadn’t even placed the nine-one-one call when you came screeching down the road.” Which meant either the fucking batshit insane asshole was in on the attack, or… “What, you didn’t know?” Mika knew if Kaufman sneered like that again, he would break the damn fool’s jaw himself. At the very least. “Todd woke up a couple hours ago, said his dad went nuts because his son likes to lick nu—” Mika growled, baring his teeth as he leant over the sheriff, feeling immense satisfaction when the other man shrank away. “I’d suggest you watch your mouth, Kaufman. I’ve already explained how easy it would be for you to lose your position.” And it wouldn’t hurt to have some insurance. “Gabe, take my phone. Set it to record.” He stretched a hand out behind him, hoping the sheriff would think they were just clasping hands. Judging by the sneer on his face, the man thought just that. “A tad homophobic, Kaufman?” “Whatever, that’s just… Y’all are… It’s no wonder Todd’s father lost it. What father wouldn’t?” Kaufman’s stare dared Mika to contradict him. Wouldn’t want to let the man down. “Any father who gives a shit about his son, that’s what kind of father wouldn’t. Not that I’d expect you to understand that, as it would involve something called unconditional love. Ever heard of it?” Sheriff Kaufman puffed his chest up, looking for all the world like he was going to start banging on it with both his fists. “Look, you fucking queer, I will haul this guy off and give him tips on how to do the job right next time before I turn him loose. You do not want to fuck with me.” Oh, Mika was scared. Not. “Gabe?” Hopefully the phone had recorded for that long. If not, they could bluff. Gabe grinned and waved the phone in the air as another patrol car came speeding down the road. Good, witnesses. Maybe that would stop the sheriff from trying to kill them when he found out what they’d done. “What the fuck are you waving around in the air, you freak?” Kaufman was glaring, fit to kill, but kept his voice low as his deputy approached.

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“Did you know, Sheriff,” Gabe drawled out, “that a lot of cell phones have a record option now? It’s friggin’ amazing what these things can do. Isn’t that right, Deputy Stanish?” Gabe grinned, but his eyes, cold and hard, never left the sheriff’s. Deputy Stanish nodded. “Yeah, those things are amazing. That one have video and sound?” Not that the video would do much good out here, but still. Mika nodded. “Yes, sir, it does,” he bent and whispered in the Sheriff’s ear, “and we have some fucking great audio of the past several minutes. How…politically incorrect of us not to warn you. And raising a ruckus won’t get you that phone, it’ll just make Stanish suspicious. So shut the fuck up and do your job, Kaufman” Mika stepped back. “Damn, that felt good. Let’s see if the fool is going to play nice now.” “So, Todd told you his father assaulted him, and you came here… why?” He thought the sheriff was going to ignore his question when the man only turned instead to instruct Stanish to cuff the prisoner and gather up whatever evidence he could. Then Kaufman turned back to Mika. “I came because I went to search for Mr. Barton but he wasn’t home. Mrs. Barton was afraid he would come here, looking to take out… Well, he blames Gabe for Todd being gay. So I hauled it on over.” Looked like Kaufman was going to play nice, courtesy of a bit of blackmail, go figure. Mika thumped the man on the back, good ol’ boy style, just because it would infuriate him. “Well, it’s a good thing you got here when you did, even if it was pretty much all over. I’m sure you’ll do your damnedest to make sure Todd gets justice, seeing as how you would never,” Mika arched a brow at the red-faced sheriff, “ever, tolerate such a thing as a hate crime, right Sheriff Kaufman?” He heard Gabe smother a laugh as the sheriff glowered, his footsteps jerky and loud as he walked over to where Mr. Barton lay cuffed. “Mika, you are something else, you know it?” Gabe held his injured hand against his chest. “You made my heart—and another thing or three—go pitter-patter.” “Well, mate, after we get your hand checked out, maybe you can show me just what thing or three you’re talking about, hmm?” Mika wrapped his arms around Gabe and pulled him as close as he dared without pressing up against his hand, not giving a shit what Kaufman or Stanish thought. They knew the deal and could just deal with it.

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“How much longer y’all gonna be?” Mika didn’t care much which man answered, as long as they said what he wanted to hear. “We are about done here, waiting for a tow truck to take Barton’s vehicle away and we need to get your statements,” Stanish answered. At least the man didn’t sound bothered by them holding each other. Mika released Gabe and turned to face Stanish. “Any chance you could swing by the hospital and get our statements there? I think Gabriel may have broken his hand when he knocked the fuck out of Barton.” Deputy Stanish tried not to smile at that. “Yeah, well, if it’s any consolation, it sure looks like Barton has a broken jaw. I bet he has his mouth wired shut, which could only be a blessing, let me tell you. That is one son of a bitch who is holier than thou, and thou, and thou, ya know what I mean?” “Oh, yeah,” Gabe answered. “He was a friend of my parents; they were all pretty damned zealous.” “Yup.” Stanish nodded. “Go on, I’ll come up to the hospital for the statements—after I make sure Kaufman doesn’t ‘accidentally’ screw up this investigation.” He winked and walked back to the sheriff. Mika and Gabe stared at each other, a little dumbfounded by the deputy’s forthrightness. “Huh. Who knew?” Mika sure hadn’t. “Not me, caveman, not me.” “Well, it makes me feel a bit better. Come on, let’s get up to the hospital.” Mika placed his hand in the small of his mate’s back. He wouldn’t relax until Gabe was taken care of, and he was pretty sure that Gabe would want to see Todd. Then, after everything was done, he could bring his mate home and investigate the whole pitter-patter thing. Three hours later, Gabe’s hand was immobilised in a splint that ran halfway up his forearm. They had given Deputy Stanish their statements and could finally go find Todd and Adam. Mika kept a steadying hand on Gabe’s elbow, as he wasn’t sure how his mate would handle the pain pills he had downed a few minutes ago. “Here we go, babe,” Mika murmured, pushing open the door to Todd’s room. Whoops. Judging by the way Adam leapt away from the bed, jerking his hand out from beneath the covers, maybe they should have knocked first.

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“Wow, you guys turn a pretty shade of red,” Gabe snickered. Oh, yeah, his mate was getting a little loopy on him. Shit. He’d let Gabe sleep if the man needed it, though he’d gotten his hopes up for something more stimulating. Adam glared at Gabe while Todd just glowed like a lovesick fool. “Next time, knock,” the vet bit out. Mika narrowed his eyes at the man, not caring if he was embarrassed, because no one was going to talk to Gabe like that. “He’s had a few pain pills, Adam, courtesy of his fractured hand. The fractured hand he got, might I point out,” Mika glanced at Todd, “while breaking your father’s jaw when he was trying to bash my brains in with a fucking pipe.” Todd’s painful-looking grin vanished. “Oh. Oh shit, I’m sorry, guys. He’s fucking crazy—” The words came out so thick and lisp-entrenched Mika had to work to understand them, and that was with his enhanced hearing. “It’s not your fault your dad is a…uh. It’s not your fault, Todd,” Adam reassured with a sigh. “Sorry I snapped, it was just embarrassing getting caught with my hand in the cookie jar, so to speak.” “Hey, man, it’s okay, right Mika? I mean, I plan on having my good hand in Mika’s cookie ja—” Mika slapped a hand over Gabe’s mouth, feeling his own cheeks heat up as Adam and Todd laughed. Maybe his mate could get by on half the dose of pain medicine next time. Gabe bit his fingers, not exactly gently, surprising a yelp out of Mika and causing him to pull his hand away. “You’ll pay for that later, mate.” “I’m counting on it, sexy,” Gabe leered. Adam and Todd looked confused, and Mika figured he’d better play it off. “Okay, you can put your good hand, and any other part you want, into my cookie jar when we get home, I promise.” His cock swelled at the very thought. God, he hoped this was a short visit. “Well, uh, on that note, Deputy Stanish did come by and fill us in on what happened. He even mentioned that you might have blackmailed the sheriff into good behaviour?” Adam raised a brow in enquiry.

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Gabe laughed like a lunatic, clearly enjoying his pain-free state. Up to me, I guess, Mika thought. “Yeah, I thought Stanish caught on to that, but it worked. Those record options on cell phones are something else, ya know?” Todd’s eyes looked like they were fixing to pop out of his head. Adam laughed, whether at his man or at what Gabe and Mika had done, Mika didn’t know, but it was good to see him happy. Gabe pursed his lips and stared at Mika with a look that should have put him on alert. “Ya know, caveman,” laughter burst out from their friends at Gabe’s pet name for him, “I bet we could have a lot of fun with that particular cell phone option.” Holy shit, he didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or turned on even more. Turned on won as his cock leapt. Yup, it definitely liked the record option. Mika grabbed his mate, managing a quick ‘later’ to the two laughing men behind him as he dragged Gabe out the door. Mika was surprised they made it home from the hospital without having a wreck. He’d swear Gabe had sprouted eight hands and two tongues and was determined to drive Mika insane with all of them in the bench seat of the truck. He had swatted away hands—well, one good hand, anyway—and tried to avoid a very determined tongue, but by the time he pulled in the drive, he was on the verge of ripping Gabe’s pants off and fucking him right there. Or fucking his pretty, smart ass mouth. The whole hand issue was a bit trickier, since his mate had injured his dominant hand, but Mika was fairly certain they could work around it. He slapped the truck in park and pulled the key out, then lunged to grab Gabe, surprised when his stoned-by-medical-prescription mate slid away, escaping out the passenger door. “Oh, wanna play chase, huh, mate?” Gabe laughed in reply, stumbling a bit as he ran for the porch. Mika stalked him slowly, drawing out the love play even though his prick was pulsing for release. This little game of stalker and prey was probably going to have to count as foreplay, because once Mika got his hands on his mate, he wasn’t going to be able to stop himself from fucking him until they both dropped. He waited for the moment when Gabe relaxed his guard then lunged, grabbing his mate around the waist and tossing him over his shoulder like the proverbial bag of potatoes.

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Gabe giggled—giggled, for shit’s sake—and grabbed Mika’s ass, pinching hard through the denim. Damn, his mate was going to end up getting stuffed up against the front door unless Mika could get his keys out and stop his hand from shaking long enough to unlock the deadbolt. Mika finally got the key in the lock and twisted the door open with enough force that it bounced into the wall and halfway back, slamming into his foot. Gabe pushed the door the rest of the way shut with his good hand, then promptly stuck that hand down the back of Mika’s jeans, massaging his ass. Mika groaned and slapped a hand to his mate’s ass, then he curled his fingers in to rub the seam of Gabe’s jeans, pushing down as he stroked the crease. “More, caveman. Need you to fuck me.” Gabe was expelling soft, breathy pants, and Mika felt the wet spot on the front of his jeans grow. He managed to make it to the bedroom, plopping Gabe down on the bed and pulling off his shoes and socks. Grabbing for the lube with one hand, he jerked his shirt off with the other. “Strip, Gabriel, now, so I can fuck you like we both need.” Mika started working on his jeans and glanced up to see why Gabe wasn’t moving; at least, he wasn’t moving fast enough. “Uh, Mika?” Gabe held up his splinted hand. Mika had been so horny he hadn’t stopped to think about how Gabe would get his clothes off. Mika felt like an ass even if he was sure he’d seared away half his brain cells, burning them up with his need for his mate. “Shit, babe, I’m sorry. Let me get these off.” He stepped out of his clothes that had pooled around his ankles. “And now, mmm, now it’s your turn.” Mika crawled up Gabe’s body, bracing himself on his hands by pinning his mate’s arms to the mattress. Gabe moaned, his scent burning with arousal at the restraint. The man was definitely enjoying the caveman experience. Mika nipped his mate’s lower lip and thrust his tongue in, mashing their mouths together when Gabe opened on another moan. Their hips mimicked the thrusting of their tongues, the soft denim covering Gabe’s cock scraping against Mika’s prick, almost making him come. Mika slid Gabe’s hands up over his head, bringing them to the headboard. “Keep them right there, mate. Hold the bottom of that headboard like your life depended on it.” Gabe nodded, writhing with need.

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“You’re so fucking sexy,” Mika leant back down to suck on his mate’s neck, drawn to the bite mark. He laved the spot with his tongue, suckling and licking, revelling in the way Gabe reacted—his moans and pants, twisting his body, seeking satisfaction. It was all driving Mika insane with need. He rose up on one arm, grabbing the front of his mate’s shirt with the other hand and jerked, sending buttons flying. “Oh shit! Fuck yeah, caveman!” Gabe bucked his hips and arched his back, so desperate for fucking that Mika’s eyes crossed at the sight and scent. He licked a flat brown nipple, then bit, using his fingers to pinch the other. Gabe screamed and almost tossed Mika off. “God, Mika, please, please, pleasepleasepleaseplease! Fuck me, please.” Gabe whimpered as tears leaked from the corner of his eyes. “Gonna, babe, I promise,” Mika raised up and licked the tears away, then slid down until he straddled his mate’s thighs, jerking the button of his jeans free before sliding the zipper down. He watched the pretty, thick cock spring free, wishing he could take the time to worship it properly, but they were both burning too hot to wait any longer. He scooted down and pulled off the rest of Gabe’s clothes. He grabbed the lube and coated his own cock before crawling back up between his mate’s widespread thighs. “Let me get you ready, babe,” Mika gritted out, pouring a dab of the lube on his fingers. He stroked them over the tight opening, coating the wrinkled skin well before pushing two fingers in to the second knuckle. “You’re so tight, Gabriel,” he muttered as Gabe pushed against the fingers, screaming again when Mika pegged his prostate. He drew his hand back, scissoring his fingers before fitting in a third and shoving in deep. Gabe shrieked, raising the fine hairs on the back of Mika’s neck, when his fingers massaged his mate’s gland. “I can’t wait any more, babe, I have to…” Mika pulled his fingers out and lined his cock up with the vice-like hole. Mika raised Gabe’s legs up over his shoulders and thrust, burying his cock fully inside his mate’s velvety heat. Muscles clamped down on his prick, sending shudders up and down Mika’s spine. He tried to keep still, wanting this to last, but Gabe used the leverage of his legs to thrust against Mika, and all thoughts of this lasting were shot to hell.

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He came down on his mate, almost folding the man in half as he shoved deep into the tight channel squeezing his prick. Gabe’s arms were stiff, bracing himself with his good hand against the headboard, pushing himself down against Mika’s thrusts. “Fuck, babe,” Mika groaned when Gabe let loose with a guttural scream and came, cock shooting creamy come between their bellies, coating them both. The scent filled his nostrils and Mika let loose his own yell, burying his dick as deeply inside Gabe’s tight hole as he could. Jets of milky semen spurted into Gabe’s clenching depths as Mika ground his hips against his mate’s ass, trying to get deeper still, wanting to be so far in he’d never get out. A hard shudder ripped through him, his muscles spasming almost painfully for long seconds until gradually Mika’s entire body felt boneless. Mika’s arms wobbled in warning, wrung out from the intensity of his orgasm. He pulled out of Gabe, awed all over again by his love for his mate. “Damn, Gabriel, I love you more than you can imagine.” Gabe grumbled at him as Mika slid off the bed onto shaking legs, but he wanted to show some tenderness, some small bit of how precious his mate was to him. Reaching the bathroom, Mika found a cloth and turned on the hot water, waiting until it warmed up before wetting the cloth. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he gently wiped his mate clean, enjoying the sounds of approval Gabe murmured. Once he finished with Gabe, Mika headed back to the bathroom to clean himself up. By the time he got back to bed, his mate was losing the battle to stay awake. He managed to pry an eye open and look at Mika. “God, Mika, I love you, so fucking much that it’s insane.” That one eye drooped closed again. Crawling into bed, Mika pulled Gabe in tight, careful of his injured hand, and snuggled them as close together as possible. This, this was everything right and good—Gabe, them together, a part of each other. This was where he belonged. The two of them, having been outcasts, now had their own little pack with their friends and their dogs. Mika had no doubt it would only get better, sweeter, and hotter. He grinned as drifted into sleep, knowing it would be all of those things and more…with a hint of deviant thrown in.

About the Author A native Texan, Bailey spends her days spinning stories around in her head, which has contributed to more than one incident of tripping over her own feet. Evenings are resounds for pounding away at the keyboard, as are the early morning hours. Sleep? Doesn’t happen much. Writing is too much fun, and there are too many characters bouncing about, tapping on Bailey’s brain, demanding to be let out. Caffeine and chocolate are permanent fixtures in Bailey’s office and are never far from hand at any given time. Removing either of those necessities from Bailey’s presence can result in what is known as A Very, Very Scary Bailey and is not advised under any circumstances. Email: [email protected] Bailey loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.

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